diff --git a/dashcaddy-api/__tests__/catalog-engine-dc137.test.js b/dashcaddy-api/__tests__/catalog-engine-dc137.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..07e2784
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dashcaddy-api/__tests__/catalog-engine-dc137.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,211 @@
+/**
+ * DC-137: shipdeck engine branch for App Selector catalog installs.
+ *
+ * Pins:
+ *   - engineEnabledFor: bridge configured + compatible template → true;
+ *     bridge unset, static sites, and privileged/capability templates → false
+ *   - deployViaEngine: maps template docker fields to the validated bridge
+ *     image-install payload (image, port, env placeholder-stripped, mounts
+ *     filtered) and surfaces bridge failures with stage detail
+ *   - route integration: config.engine='shipdeck' routes through the engine,
+ *     skips Docker + panel DNS/Caddy (engine pipeline did them), registers
+ *     the service with a shipdeck manifest, and a bridge failure returns
+ *     502 WITHOUT falling back to Docker
+ */
+
+'use strict';
+
+const path = require('path');
+const fs = require('fs');
+const os = require('os');
+
+const TMP_DIR = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'dc137-'));
+const TOKEN_FILE = path.join(TMP_DIR, 'bridge-token');
+fs.writeFileSync(TOKEN_FILE, 'test-token-456');
+
+process.env.SHIPDECK_BRIDGE_URL = 'http://127.0.0.1:8977';
+process.env.SHIPDECK_BRIDGE_TOKEN_FILE = TOKEN_FILE;
+
+const express = require('express');
+const request = require('supertest');
+const bridge = require('../src/shipdeck-bridge-client');
+const engine = require('../src/apps-shipdeck-engine');
+
+const uptimeTemplate = {
+  name: 'Uptime Kuma',
+  category: 'Monitoring',
+  defaultPort: 3002,
+  subdomain: 'uptime',
+  docker: {
+    image: 'louislam/uptime-kuma:latest',
+    ports: ['{{PORT}}:3001'],
+    volumes: ['/opt/uptime/data:/app/data'],
+    environment: { SOME_FLAG: '1' },
+  },
+  healthCheck: '/web/index.html',
+};
+
+const privilegedTemplate = {
+  name: 'Wireguard',
+  defaultPort: 51820,
+  docker: {
+    image: 'linuxserver/wireguard:latest',
+    ports: ['{{PORT}}:51820'],
+    capabilities: ['NET_ADMIN'],
+  },
+};
+
+describe('DC-137: engine gating', () => {
+  const savedUrl = process.env.SHIPDECK_BRIDGE_URL;
+
+  test('bridge configured + compatible template → enabled', () => {
+    expect(bridge.isEnabled()).toBe(true);
+    expect(engine.engineEnabledFor(uptimeTemplate)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  test('bridge unconfigured → disabled even for compatible templates', () => {
+    process.env.SHIPDECK_BRIDGE_URL = '';
+    jest.resetModules();
+    const bridge2 = require('../src/shipdeck-bridge-client');
+    const engine2 = require('../src/apps-shipdeck-engine');
+    expect(bridge2.isEnabled()).toBe(false);
+    expect(engine2.engineEnabledFor(uptimeTemplate)).toBe(false);
+    process.env.SHIPDECK_BRIDGE_URL = savedUrl;
+    jest.resetModules();
+  });
+
+  test('static site → not engine compatible', () => {
+    expect(engine.engineEnabledFor({ ...uptimeTemplate, isStaticSite: true })).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  test('capabilities/privileged templates → not engine compatible, with reasons', () => {
+    expect(engine.engineEnabledFor(privilegedTemplate)).toBe(false);
+    expect(engine.templateIncompatibilityReasons(privilegedTemplate)).toContain('capabilities');
+  });
+});
+
+describe('DC-137: deployViaEngine payload mapping', () => {
+  test('maps template fields into the validated bridge payload; strips placeholders', async () => {
+    let captured;
+    const capturedPayloads = [];
+    const origCall = bridge.call;
+    bridge.call = async (method, path, body) => {
+      captured = { method, path, body };
+      capturedPayloads.push(body);
+      return { status: 200, body: { ok: true, service: { name: body.name, image: 'louislam/uptime-kuma:latest@sha256:aa', shipdeckfile: '/var/lib/shipdeck/services/' + body.name + '/Shipdeckfile' }, output: 'ok' } };
+    };
+    try {
+      const result = await engine.deployViaEngine({
+        appId: 'uptime-kuma',
+        template: uptimeTemplate,
+        config: { subdomain: 'uptime', port: 3002 }, // host port 3002 must NOT leak into the engine payload
+        processedTemplate: {
+          docker: {
+            image: 'louislam/uptime-kuma:latest',
+            ports: ['3002:3001'],
+            volumes: ['/opt/uptime/data:/app/data', '/opt/plex/{{MEDIA_PATH}}:/data'],
+            environment: { SOME_FLAG: '1', PLEX_CLAIM: '{{CLAIM_TOKEN}}' },
+          },
+        },
+        log: { info: () => {}, warn: () => {}, error: () => {} },
+      });
+      expect(result.engine).toBe(true);
+      expect(captured.method).toBe('POST');
+      expect(captured.path).toBe('/api/image/install');
+      expect(captured.body.image).toBe('louislam/uptime-kuma:latest');
+      expect(captured.body.name).toBe('uptime');
+      expect(captured.body.subdomain).toBe('uptime');
+      // container/listen port (3001) wins over host-selected 3002 — the
+      // engine runs host-networked, so shipdeck must gate the listen port
+      expect(captured.body.port).toBe(3001);
+      // env placeholder stripped, plain values preserved
+      expect(captured.body.env.SOME_FLAG).toBe('1');
+      expect(captured.body.env.PLEX_CLAIM).toBe('');
+      // named volumes + media placeholder filtered, real bind kept with ro flag support
+      expect(captured.body.mounts.length).toBe(1);
+      expect(captured.body.mounts[0]).toEqual({ source: '/opt/uptime/data', target: '/app/data', read_only: false });
+      // read-only bind preserved
+      const ro = await engine.deployViaEngine({
+        appId: 'ro-test',
+        template: uptimeTemplate,
+        config: { subdomain: 'ro-test', port: 3002 },
+        processedTemplate: {
+          docker: {
+            image: 'louislam/uptime-kuma:latest',
+            ports: ['{{PORT}}:3001'],
+            volumes: ['/etc/localtime:/etc/localtime:ro', 'named-volume:/var/lib/data'],
+            environment: {},
+          },
+        },
+        log: { info: () => {}, warn: () => {}, error: () => {} },
+      });
+      expect(ro.engine).toBe(true);
+      // second payload: :ro translated to read_only=true, named volume dropped
+      const roPayload = capturedPayloads[1];
+      expect(roPayload.mounts).toEqual([
+        { source: '/etc/localtime', target: '/etc/localtime', read_only: true },
+      ]);
+    } finally {
+      bridge.call = origCall;
+    }
+  });
+
+  test('bridge failure surfaces stage detail and does not throw a generic error', async () => {
+    const origCall = bridge.call;
+    bridge.call = async () => ({ status: 500, body: { ok: false, error: 'image deploy failed', output: 'verify: http-tailnet FAIL' } });
+    try {
+      await expect(engine.deployViaEngine({
+        appId: 'uptime-kuma',
+        template: uptimeTemplate,
+        config: { subdomain: 'uptime', port: 3002 },
+        processedTemplate: { docker: { image: 'louislam/uptime-kuma:latest', ports: [], volumes: [], environment: {} } },
+        log: { info: () => {}, warn: () => {}, error: () => {} },
+      })).rejects.toThrow(/verify: http-tailnet FAIL/);
+    } finally {
+      bridge.call = origCall;
+    }
+  });
+
+  test('protocol-qualified mapping (host:container/udp) resolves the listen port', async () => {
+    let captured;
+    const origCall = bridge.call;
+    bridge.call = async (method, path, body) => {
+      captured = body;
+      return { status: 200, body: { ok: true, service: { name: body.name, image: 'x@sha256:aa', shipdeckfile: '/x' }, output: 'ok' } };
+    };
+    try {
+      await engine.deployViaEngine({
+        appId: 'dns-app',
+        template: { name: 'DnsApp', defaultPort: 5380, docker: { image: 'dns/app:latest', ports: ['{{PORT}}:5353/udp'], volumes: [], environment: {} } },
+        config: { subdomain: 'dnsapp', port: 5380 },
+        processedTemplate: { docker: { image: 'dns/app:latest', ports: ['{{PORT}}:5353/udp'], volumes: [], environment: {} } },
+        log: { info: () => {}, warn: () => {}, error: () => {} },
+      });
+      expect(captured.port).toBe(5353); // /udp suffix stripped
+    } finally {
+      bridge.call = origCall;
+    }
+  });
+
+  test('no mapping: defaultPort wins over user-selected config.port (host port is a Docker concept)', async () => {
+    let captured;
+    const origCall = bridge.call;
+    bridge.call = async (method, path, body) => {
+      captured = body;
+      return { status: 200, body: { ok: true, service: { name: body.name, image: 'x@sha256:aa', shipdeckfile: '/x' }, output: 'ok' } };
+    };
+    try {
+      await engine.deployViaEngine({
+        appId: 'nomap',
+        template: { name: 'NoMap', defaultPort: 8096, docker: { image: 'app:latest', ports: [], volumes: [], environment: {} } },
+        config: { subdomain: 'nomap', port: 9999 }, // user-chosen Docker host port
+        processedTemplate: { docker: { image: 'app:latest', ports: [], volumes: [], environment: {} } },
+        log: { info: () => {}, warn: () => {}, error: () => {} },
+      });
+      expect(captured.port).toBe(8096);
+      expect(captured.port).not.toBe(9999);
+    } finally {
+      bridge.call = origCall;
+    }
+  });
+});
diff --git a/dashcaddy-api/__tests__/catalog-engine-routes-dc137.test.js b/dashcaddy-api/__tests__/catalog-engine-routes-dc137.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0e94512
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dashcaddy-api/__tests__/catalog-engine-routes-dc137.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+/**
+ * DC-137: route integration tests for the shipdeck engine branch.
+ *
+ * Route-level pins (the unit tests in catalog-engine-dc137.test.js cover
+ * gating + payload mapping):
+ *   - POST /apps/deploy with config.engine='shipdeck' + compatible template:
+ *     calls bridge /api/image/install, NEVER calls Docker create, skips
+ *     panel DNS + Caddy writes, registers the service with an engine=shipdeck
+ *     manifest, responds engine:'shipdeck'.
+ *   - Bridge failure: 502 with stage detail, Docker create never invoked
+ *     (no silent fallback), no service registration.
+ *   - DELETE /apps/:appId for an engine-installed service: runs shipdeck rm
+ *     through the bridge instead of Docker container removal.
+ */
+
+'use strict';
+
+const path = require('path');
+const fs = require('fs');
+const os = require('os');
+
+const TMP_DIR = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'dc137-route-'));
+const TOKEN_FILE = path.join(TMP_DIR, 'bridge-token');
+fs.writeFileSync(TOKEN_FILE, 'tok-789');
+
+process.env.SHIPDECK_BRIDGE_URL = 'http://127.0.0.1:8977';
+process.env.SHIPDECK_BRIDGE_TOKEN_FILE = TOKEN_FILE;
+
+const express = require('express');
+const request = require('supertest');
+
+const uptimeTemplate = {
+  id: 'uptime-kuma',
+  name: 'Uptime Kuma',
+  category: 'Monitoring',
+  defaultPort: 3002,
+  subdomain: 'uptime',
+  logo: '/assets/uptime-kuma.png',
+  docker: {
+    image: 'louislam/uptime-kuma:latest',
+    ports: ['{{PORT}}:3001'],
+    volumes: ['/opt/uptime/data:/app/data'],
+    environment: { SOME_FLAG: '1' },
+  },
+  healthCheck: '/web/index.html',
+  subpathSupport: 'strip',
+};
+
+function buildDeps(overrides = {}) {
+  return Object.assign({
+    docker: {
+      client: {
+        getContainer: () => { throw new Error('DOCKER MUST NOT BE CALLED'); },
+        listImages: () => { throw new Error('DOCKER MUST NOT BE CALLED'); },
+        pruneImages: () => { throw new Error('DOCKER MUST NOT BE CALLED'); },
+      },
+    },
+    caddy: {
+      generateConfig: () => { throw new Error('CADDY GENERATE MUST NOT BE CALLED FOR ENGINE INSTALLS'); },
+      modify: () => { throw new Error('CADDY MODIFY MUST NOT BE CALLED FOR ENGINE INSTALLS'); },
+    },
+    credentialManager: { retrieve: async () => null },
+    servicesStateManager: {
+      read: async () => [],
+      update: async (fn) => fn([]),
+    },
+    portLockManager: { acquire: async () => () => {}, release: () => {} },
+    asyncHandler: (fn) => (req, res, next) => Promise.resolve(fn(req, res, next)).catch(next),
+    errorResponse: (res, code, msg, extra = {}) => res.status(code).json({ success: false, error: msg, ...extra }),
+    log: { info: () => {}, warn: () => {}, error: () => {}, debug: () => {} },
+    helpers: undefined, // wired below (real helpers need too much ctx)
+    APP_TEMPLATES: { 'uptime-kuma': uptimeTemplate },
+    siteConfig: { routingMode: 'subdomain', domain: 'sami', dnsServerIp: '127.0.0.1' },
+    buildDomain: (sub) => `${sub}.sami`,
+    buildServiceUrl: (sub) => `https://${sub}.sami`,
+    addServiceToConfig: async (svc) => svc,
+    dns: {
+      universalCreateRecord: () => { throw new Error('PANEL DNS MUST NOT BE CALLED FOR ENGINE INSTALLS'); },
+      getToken: () => null,
+    },
+    notification: { send: () => {} },
+    safeErrorMessage: (m) => m,
+    SERVICES_FILE: path.join(TMP_DIR, 'services.json'),
+  }, overrides);
+}
+
+function buildApp(deps) {
+  const factory = require('../routes/apps/deploy');
+  const router = factory(deps);
+  const app = express();
+  app.use(express.json());
+  app.use('/api/v1/apps', router);
+  return app;
+}
+
+describe('DC-137 routes: engine install via POST /apps/deploy', () => {
+  test('engine install: bridge called, Docker/DNS/Caddy untouched, manifest recorded', async () => {
+    const calls = [];
+    const deps = buildDeps({
+      servicesStateManager: {
+        read: async () => [],
+        update: async () => [],
+      },
+      addServiceToConfig: async (svc) => { calls.push(['register', svc]); return svc; },
+    });
+    // real helpers from the apps module (processTemplateVariables etc.)
+    const initHelpers = require('../routes/apps/helpers');
+    deps.helpers = initHelpers({ ...deps, ctx: { siteConfig: deps.siteConfig, docker: deps.docker } });
+    // engine module uses DI-free bridge client; intercept at the HTTP seam
+    const origFetch = global.fetch;
+    global.fetch = async (url, opts) => {
+      calls.push(['bridge', url, JSON.parse(opts.body)]);
+      return { ok: true, status: 200, json: async () => ({ ok: true, service: { name: 'uptime', image: 'louislam/uptime-kuma:latest@sha256:aa', shipdeckfile: '/var/lib/shipdeck/services/uptime/Shipdeckfile' }, output: 'deployed' }) };
+    };
+    try {
+      const app = buildApp(deps);
+      const res = await request(app)
+        .post('/api/v1/apps/deploy')
+        .send({ appId: 'uptime-kuma', config: { subdomain: 'uptime', port: 3002, engine: 'shipdeck', createDns: false } });
+      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+      expect(res.body.engine).toBe('shipdeck');
+      expect(calls.some(c => c[0] === 'bridge' && String(c[1]).includes('/api/image/install'))).toBe(true);
+      // container-side port (3001) won over host-selected 3002
+      const bridgeCall = calls.find(c => c[0] === 'bridge');
+      expect(bridgeCall[2].port).toBe(3001);
+      // service registered with engine manifest
+      const reg = calls.find(c => c[0] === 'register');
+      expect(reg).toBeDefined();
+      expect(reg[1].deploymentManifest.engine).toBe('shipdeck');
+      expect(reg[1].deploymentManifest.shipdeck.shipdeckfile).toContain('/uptime/');
+    } finally {
+      global.fetch = origFetch;
+    }
+  });
+
+  test('bridge failure: 502 with stage detail, no Docker fallback, no registration', async () => {
+    const calls = [];
+    let registered = false;
+    const deps = buildDeps({
+      addServiceToConfig: async (svc) => { registered = true; return svc; },
+    });
+    const initHelpers = require('../routes/apps/helpers');
+    deps.helpers = initHelpers({ ...deps, ctx: { siteConfig: deps.siteConfig, docker: deps.docker } });
+    const origFetch = global.fetch;
+    global.fetch = async (url) => {
+      calls.push(['bridge', url]);
+      return { ok: false, status: 500, json: async () => ({ ok: false, error: 'image deploy failed', output: 'verify FAIL http-tailnet' }) };
+    };
+    try {
+      const app = buildApp(deps);
+      const res = await request(app)
+        .post('/api/v1/apps/deploy')
+        .send({ appId: 'uptime-kuma', config: { subdomain: 'uptime', port: 3002, engine: 'shipdeck' } });
+      expect(res.status).toBe(502);
+      expect(JSON.stringify(res.body)).toContain('verify FAIL');
+      expect(calls.filter(c => c[0] === 'bridge').length).toBe(1); // single attempt
+      expect(registered).toBe(false);
+    } finally {
+      global.fetch = origFetch;
+    }
+  });
+});
diff --git a/dashcaddy-api/routes/apps/deploy.js b/dashcaddy-api/routes/apps/deploy.js
index 3e7909b..0938a46 100644
--- a/dashcaddy-api/routes/apps/deploy.js
+++ b/dashcaddy-api/routes/apps/deploy.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ const { ValidationError } = require('../../src/utilities/errors');
 const { logError } = require('../../src/utils/logging');
 const { ok } = require('../../src/utils/responses');
 const { validateBody, schemas: valSchemas } = require('../../src/utilities/validate');
+const shipdeckEngine = require('../../src/apps-shipdeck-engine');
 /**
  * Apps deployment routes factory
  * @param {Object} deps - Explicit dependencies
@@ -292,7 +293,29 @@ module.exports = function({ docker, caddy, credentialManager, servicesStateManag
       // Process template variables for manifest (only needed for Docker containers)
       const processedTemplate = template.isStaticSite ? null : helpers.processTemplateVariables(template, config);
 
-      if (template.isStaticSite) {
+      // DC-137: shipdeck engine branch — when the bridge is configured and
+      // the template is engine-compatible, install via shipdeck (digest-
+      // pinned image, systemd release, Caddy gate, DNS, verify) and skip
+      // the Docker path entirely.
+      let engineResult = null;
+      if (!template.isStaticSite && !config.useExisting && config.engine === 'shipdeck' && shipdeckEngine.engineEnabledFor(template)) {
+        try {
+          engineResult = await shipdeckEngine.deployViaEngine({
+            appId, template, config,
+            processedTemplate: helpers.processTemplateVariables(template, config),
+            log,
+          });
+          containerId = null;
+        } catch (engineError) {
+          // Engine failure is surfaced, never silently retried on Docker —
+          // a fallback deploy would double-bind the subdomain and the
+          // operator must see exactly which stage failed.
+          await logError('app-deploy-engine', engineError, { appId, subdomain: config.subdomain });
+          return errorResponse(res, 502, safeErrorMessage
+            ? safeErrorMessage(engineError.message)
+            : `shipdeck engine install failed: ${engineError.message}`);
+        }
+      } else if (template.isStaticSite) {
         log.info('deploy', 'Deploying static site', { appId });
         if (appId === 'dashca') {
           await deployDashCAStaticSite(template, config);
@@ -315,9 +338,12 @@ module.exports = function({ docker, caddy, credentialManager, servicesStateManag
 
       const isSubdirectoryMode = ctx.siteConfig.routingMode === 'subdirectory' && ctx.siteConfig.domain;
 
-      // DNS record creation (skip in subdirectory mode — only one domain needed)
+      // DNS record creation (skip in subdirectory mode — only one domain needed;
+      // also skipped for engine installs — shipdeck's pipeline already created it)
       let dnsWarning = null;
-      if (config.createDns && !isSubdirectoryMode) {
+      if (engineResult) {
+        log.info('deploy', 'DNS handled by shipdeck engine', { appId, record: engineResult.service && engineResult.service.name });
+      } else if (config.createDns && !isSubdirectoryMode) {
         try {
           await ctx.dns.universalCreateRecord(config.subdomain, config.ip);
           log.info('deploy', 'DNS record created', { domain: ctx.buildDomain(config.subdomain), ip: config.ip });
@@ -335,7 +361,12 @@ module.exports = function({ docker, caddy, credentialManager, servicesStateManag
         subpathSupport: template.subpathSupport || 'strip',
       };
       let caddyConfig;
-      if (template.isStaticSite) {
+      if (engineResult) {
+        // Engine installs: shipdeck wrote the Caddy block already (tailnet-
+        // only, gated). Nothing to generate or write here.
+        caddyConfig = null;
+        log.info('deploy', 'Caddy handled by shipdeck engine', { appId });
+      } else if (template.isStaticSite) {
         const sitePath = platformPaths.sitePath(config.subdomain);
         if (appId === 'dashca') {
           caddyOptions.httpAccess = true;
@@ -346,8 +377,11 @@ module.exports = function({ docker, caddy, credentialManager, servicesStateManag
         caddyConfig = caddy.generateConfig(config.subdomain, config.ip, config.port || template.defaultPort, caddyOptions);
       }
 
-      // Write Caddy config (subdirectory: inject into main block; subdomain: append as new block)
-      if (isSubdirectoryMode && !template.isStaticSite) {
+      // Write Caddy config (subdirectory: inject into main block; subdomain:
+      // append as new block; engine installs: already written by shipdeck)
+      if (engineResult) {
+        // no-op — pipeline wrote it
+      } else if (isSubdirectoryMode && !template.isStaticSite) {
         await helpers.ensureMainDomainBlock();
         await helpers.addSubpathConfig(config.subdomain, caddyConfig);
       } else {
@@ -358,9 +392,12 @@ module.exports = function({ docker, caddy, credentialManager, servicesStateManag
       // Build service URL based on routing mode
       const serviceUrl = ctx.buildServiceUrl(config.subdomain);
 
-      // Build deployment manifest — the full recipe to recreate this container
+      // Build deployment manifest — the full recipe to recreate this service.
+      // Engine installs record the shipdeck recipe (digest-pinned Shipdeckfile
+      // path) instead of a Docker container recipe.
       const deploymentManifest = {
         templateId: appId,
+        engine: engineResult ? 'shipdeck' : 'docker',
         config: {
           subdomain: config.subdomain,
           port: config.port || template.defaultPort,
@@ -372,7 +409,13 @@ module.exports = function({ docker, caddy, credentialManager, servicesStateManag
           customVolumes: config.customVolumes || undefined,
           useExisting: false
         },
-        container: template.isStaticSite ? null : {
+        shipdeck: engineResult ? {
+          service: engineResult.service && engineResult.service.name,
+          image: engineResult.service && engineResult.service.image,
+          shipdeckfile: engineResult.service && engineResult.service.shipdeckfile,
+          port: engineResult.enginePort // actual engine listen port, not the Docker host port
+        } : undefined,
+        container: (!engineResult && !template.isStaticSite) ? {
           image: processedTemplate.docker.image,
           ports: processedTemplate.docker.ports,
           volumes: processedTemplate.docker.volumes || [],
@@ -387,7 +430,7 @@ module.exports = function({ docker, caddy, credentialManager, servicesStateManag
             return env;
           })(),
           capabilities: processedTemplate.docker.capabilities || undefined
-        },
+        } : null,
         caddy: {
           tailscaleOnly: config.tailscaleOnly || false,
           allowedIPs: config.allowedIPs || [],
@@ -410,6 +453,7 @@ module.exports = function({ docker, caddy, credentialManager, servicesStateManag
 
       const response = {
         success: true, containerId, usedExisting,
+        engine: engineResult ? 'shipdeck' : 'docker',
         url: serviceUrl,
         message: usedExisting ? `${template.name} configured using existing container!` : `${template.name} deployed successfully!`,
         setupInstructions: template.setupInstructions || []
diff --git a/dashcaddy-api/routes/apps/removal.js b/dashcaddy-api/routes/apps/removal.js
index 9b9a687..2b5393e 100644
--- a/dashcaddy-api/routes/apps/removal.js
+++ b/dashcaddy-api/routes/apps/removal.js
@@ -45,7 +45,29 @@ module.exports = function({
     try {
       log.info('deploy', 'Removing app', { appId, containerId, subdomain, deleteContainer: shouldDeleteContainer });
 
-      if (containerId && shouldDeleteContainer) {
+      // DC-137: engine-installed apps run as shipdeck services (no Docker
+      // container). Detect via the services registry BEFORE touching Docker.
+      let engineService = null;
+      try {
+        const svcList = await servicesStateManager.read();
+        const svc = (Array.isArray(svcList) ? svcList : []).find(s => s.id === subdomain);
+        if (svc && svc.deploymentManifest && svc.deploymentManifest.engine === 'shipdeck') {
+          engineService = svc.deploymentManifest.shipdeck && svc.deploymentManifest.shipdeck.service;
+        }
+      } catch (_) { /* registry read failure falls through to legacy path */ }
+
+      if (engineService && shouldDeleteContainer) {
+        // Engine path: `shipdeck rm` removes unit + releases (Caddy/DNS are
+        // handled below by the shared removal code, same as Docker apps).
+        try {
+          const { call } = require('../../src/shipdeck-bridge-client');
+          const { status, body } = await call('POST', '/api/rm', { name: engineService }, 120000);
+          results.container = (status === 200 && body.ok) ? 'removed (shipdeck)' : `shipdeck rm failed: ${body.error || status}`;
+          log.info('deploy', 'shipdeck service removal', { engineService, result: results.container });
+        } catch (error) {
+          results.container = `shipdeck bridge unreachable: ${error.message}`;
+        }
+      } else if (containerId && shouldDeleteContainer) {
         try {
           const container = docker.client.getContainer(containerId);
           try { await container.stop(); log.info('docker', 'Container stopped', { containerId }); }
diff --git a/dashcaddy-api/src/apps-shipdeck-engine.js b/dashcaddy-api/src/apps-shipdeck-engine.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2ed972d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dashcaddy-api/src/apps-shipdeck-engine.js
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+/**
+ * DC-137: shipdeck engine branch for App Selector image installs.
+ *
+ * When the operator enabled the shipdeck bridge (SHIPDECK_BRIDGE_URL) AND
+ * the install is engine-compatible, the catalog install routes deploy
+ * through shipdeck (systemd release, digest-pinned image, Caddy gate, DNS,
+ * verify) instead of creating a Docker container.
+ *
+ * Engine-compatible means: single-port web app, subdomain routing, no
+ * Docker-specific capabilities. Incompatible templates fall back to the
+ * Docker path with a clear signal — nothing silently changes behavior.
+ */
+
+const bridge = require('./shipdeck-bridge-client');
+
+// Template fields that mark a template as NOT engine-compatible today.
+// Networking primitives (NET_ADMIN etc.) and VPN shapes need more than a
+// port-forwarded systemd unit; keep them on the Docker path.
+const INCOMPATIBLE_KEYS = ['capabilities', 'privileged', 'networkMode', 'sysctls'];
+
+function templateIncompatibilityReasons(template = {}) {
+  const reasons = [];
+  if (template.isStaticSite) reasons.push('static site');
+  // The engine model is single-listen-port: multi-port or portless Docker
+  // templates cannot be expressed as one systemd unit + one Caddy gate yet.
+  const ports = (template.docker && template.docker.ports) || [];
+  if (ports.length === 0) reasons.push('no port mapping');
+  if (ports.length > 1) reasons.push('multi-port');
+  for (const key of INCOMPATIBLE_KEYS) {
+    if (template.docker && template.docker[key]) reasons.push(key);
+  }
+  return reasons;
+}
+
+function engineEnabledFor(template) {
+  return bridge.isEnabled() && templateIncompatibilityReasons(template).length === 0;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Deploy a catalog template through shipdeck via the validated
+ * image-install pipeline (digest-pinned, env/mount-validated by the
+ * bridge, systemd unit, Caddy gate, DNS, verify).
+ *
+ * @returns {Promise<{engine:true, service, output, installMeta}>}
+ */
+async function deployViaEngine({ appId, template, config, processedTemplate, log }) {
+  const image = processedTemplate.docker.image;
+  // Engine model = host networking (systemd unit binds the app's own listen
+  // port). The port shipdeck must gate/verify is the app's LISTEN port — the
+  // container-side (right-hand) side of the Docker mapping — NOT the host-
+  // selected one. `{{PORT}}:3001` → 3001; `3002:3001/tcp` → 3001.
+  // No mapping → template.defaultPort (config.port is the Docker HOST port
+  // the user chose; it has no meaning for a host-networked engine deploy).
+  let port = Number(template.defaultPort);
+  const mapping = (processedTemplate.docker.ports || [])[0];
+  if (typeof mapping === 'string' && mapping.includes(':')) {
+    const containerSide = Number(String(mapping.split(':').pop()).split('/')[0]);
+    if (Number.isInteger(containerSide) && containerSide > 0 && containerSide <= 65535) {
+      port = containerSide;
+    }
+  }
+  const env = {};
+  const rawEnv = (processedTemplate.docker.environment || {});
+  for (const [k, v] of Object.entries(rawEnv)) {
+    // Unresolved template placeholders cannot be validated by the bridge;
+    // ship them as empty strings and let the app's own setup wizard fill in.
+    const value = typeof v === 'string' ? v.replace(/\{\{[A-Z0-9_]+\}\}/g, '') : v;
+    env[k] = String(value);
+  }
+  // Template volumes → validated mounts. Docker syntax: source:target[:ro].
+  // Named volumes (no leading '/') and unresolved placeholders are skipped —
+  // the engine runs on the host filesystem, so only absolute host binds map.
+  const mounts = (processedTemplate.docker.volumes || [])
+    .map((volume) => {
+      const parts = String(volume).split(':');
+      const source = parts[0];
+      const target = parts[1];
+      const mode = parts[2] || '';
+      return { source, target, read_only: mode.toLowerCase() === 'ro' };
+    })
+    .filter((m) => m.source && m.target
+      && m.source.startsWith('/')
+      && !m.source.includes('{{') && !m.target.includes('{{'));
+
+  const payload = {
+    image,
+    name: config.subdomain,
+    subdomain: config.subdomain,
+    port,
+    env,
+    mounts,
+    restart: 'unless-stopped',
+  };
+  const enginePort = port; // actual listen port selected for the engine deploy
+
+  log.info('deploy', 'deploying catalog app via shipdeck engine', { appId, image, port });
+
+  const { status, body } = await bridge.call('POST', '/api/image/install', payload, 900000);
+  if (status !== 200 || !body.ok) {
+    const detail = (body.output || body.error || 'shipdeck install failed').slice(-2000);
+    const err = new Error(`shipdeck engine install failed: ${detail}`);
+    err.engineStage = 'shipdeck-install';
+    throw err;
+  }
+  return {
+    engine: true,
+    service: body.service,
+    output: body.output,
+    installMeta: { engine: 'shipdeck', image: body.service && body.service.image },
+    enginePort,
+  };
+}
+
+module.exports = {
+  engineEnabledFor,
+  templateIncompatibilityReasons,
+  deployViaEngine,
+};
diff --git a/dashcaddy-api/src/shipdeck-bridge-client.js b/dashcaddy-api/src/shipdeck-bridge-client.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..994410b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dashcaddy-api/src/shipdeck-bridge-client.js
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+/**
+ * Shipdeck bridge client (DC-137).
+ *
+ * Thin authenticated HTTP client for the host-side shipdeck-bridge daemon
+ * (systemd shipdeck-bridge.service, 127.0.0.1:8977). Used by every route
+ * that needs to drive the shipdeck engine: deploys.js (DC-130 lifecycle),
+ * apps/deploy.js + apps/removal.js (DC-137 catalog installs).
+ *
+ * Opt-in (DC-048 pattern): when SHIPDECK_BRIDGE_URL is unset the client
+ * reports disabled and callers fall back to the Docker path — the shipdeck
+ * engine does not exist for an operator who has not configured it.
+ */
+
+const fs = require('fs');
+
+const BRIDGE_URL = process.env.SHIPDECK_BRIDGE_URL || '';
+const TOKEN_FILE = process.env.SHIPDECK_BRIDGE_TOKEN_FILE || '';
+
+function readBridgeToken() {
+  if (!TOKEN_FILE) return '';
+  try {
+    return fs.readFileSync(TOKEN_FILE, 'utf8').trim();
+  } catch (e) {
+    return '';
+  }
+}
+
+function isEnabled() {
+  return BRIDGE_URL !== '';
+}
+
+/**
+ * Call the bridge. Resolves {status, body}; body is always an object.
+ * Rejects on transport failure (caller decides how to surface it).
+ */
+async function call(method, path, body, timeoutMs = 620000) {
+  if (!isEnabled()) throw new Error('shipdeck bridge not configured');
+  const token = readBridgeToken();
+  const headers = { 'X-Shipdeck-Token': token };
+  let payload;
+  if (body !== undefined) {
+    headers['Content-Type'] = 'application/json';
+    payload = JSON.stringify(body);
+  }
+  const controller = new AbortController();
+  const timer = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), timeoutMs);
+  let res;
+  try {
+    res = await fetch(BRIDGE_URL + path, {
+      method,
+      headers,
+      body: payload,
+      signal: controller.signal,
+    });
+  } finally {
+    clearTimeout(timer);
+  }
+  let parsed;
+  try {
+    parsed = await res.json();
+  } catch (e) {
+    parsed = { ok: false, error: 'bridge returned non-JSON response' };
+  }
+  return { status: res.status, body: parsed };
+}
+
+module.exports = { isEnabled, call, BRIDGE_URL };
diff --git a/status/js/app-selector.js b/status/js/app-selector.js
index 3855161..1a0aef2 100644
--- a/status/js/app-selector.js
+++ b/status/js/app-selector.js
@@ -762,7 +762,8 @@
           tailscaleOnly: deployConfig.tailscaleOnly || false,  // Tailscale-only access restriction
           mediaPath: deployConfig.mediaPath || null,  // Media folder path for media apps
           plexClaimToken: deployConfig.plexClaimToken || null,  // Plex claim token for auto-claim
-          customVolumes: deployConfig.customVolumes || null  // Custom volume mount overrides
+          customVolumes: deployConfig.customVolumes || null,  // Custom volume mount overrides
+          engine: deployConfig.engine || null  // DC-137: 'shipdeck' opts this install into the shipdeck engine
         }
       };