This is the basic video guide of how to do it:

So you want import or export a ship? This guide is for you then!


Exporting:
If you are exporting the ship then in the build menu click the Saved Ships Icon from the left side tool bar that looks like this


From here you can save your ship and even import a ship remember this for the import part.


Now you can see the directory from the screenshot above but if you are lazy then hit Windows Key + R and paste in the following and hit enter "%appdata%/Avorion" (without the "quotes")

Go to the Ships folder and you are set. You can share these with your friends.




Importing:
Importing is pretty much exactly like exporting.

So we downloaded an XML file lets do something with it.
Windows Key + R and paste in the following and hit enter "%appdata%/Avorion" (without the "quotes") Go to Ships folder.

Move your XML file there.

Now in game sadly at this time you need to leave the galaxy and go back to the main menu to load the xml. You don't have to quit the game just need to go back to the main menu then load the galaxy up again.

Once you have done this you can go to your build menu once again click the Saved Ships icon:


Here you can click the fresh imported ship and then click Apply Plan and that is it you should be set!