I’m on level 47 and a ship has shown up. What is it for?

That's exactly it. I keep alot of stored stuff because I sometimes have to replan the Island setup. And if I too many Flowers to move to next level, I'll throw some storage stuff on the land, the next chapter opens, and I put the stuff back into storage. I don't see ships anywhere in my circle of players & their estates look terrible. Just every damn thing they've acquired shoved together.