A great warship, pale and spectral, looms on the left side of the scene, its tall masts rising faintly against a blue-grey sky. A small, dark tugboat sits just in front of the ship, its smokestack angled forward and trailing a plume of smoke that drifts into the mist. The water below them reflects both vessels, broken by ripples and streaks of white and blue, painted with loose, almost shimmering brushstrokes.

To the right, the sea stretches into the distance, dotted with tiny boats that punctuate the horizon. The sky dominates the upper half of the panel, glowing with the warm, swirling colours of sunset: yellow, orange, and red blend into the pale blue, with the sun itself low and bright near the horizon. The clouds are painted with broad, energetic strokes, their edges soft and diffuse, giving the impression of movement and changing light.

The brushwork is varied, with smooth areas in the sky and water contrasting with the rougher, more textured paint of the vessels and foreground objects. The palette is dominated by cool blues and greys, offset by the intense warmth of the sunset and the subtle touches of yellow and white. Every detail, from the faint rigging of the ship to the glimmer of light on the waves, is rendered with a sense of atmosphere and fleeting light.

In the lower right corner, a small rowing boat with two figures is visible, silhouetted against the water. A dark, cylindrical object juts into the scene from the bottom right edge, partially submerged in the water. Near the horizon on the right, faint outlines of additional boats can be seen, some with upright masts.

The sunlight casts a golden reflection across the water, creating a bright, shimmering path that stretches from the sun toward the foreground. The far left edge of the painting is filled with deep blue and grey tones, blending into the shadowy form of the large ship. Loose, swirling brushstrokes in the upper right sky create a marbled effect with pale yellow, pink, and orange hues intermingling.