Abstract: The current development and application of hydraulic expansion bolt in ships and power plants are introduced and analyzed. The design of the shafting with high strength hydraulic expansion bolt is described. The requirement of diameter selection of hydraulic expansion bolt varies with the rules of different classification societies. However a few studies were done by the domestic ship community on the behavior of the bolt in ships under real conditions. It suggests that the standards of the bolt design need to be developed, and if applied in ships, it should be properly improved. Major issues and direction for the research of high strength hydraulic expansion bolt are then put forward.