diff --git a/cmd/bd/label.go b/cmd/bd/label.go
index 62227908..8b19192f 100644
--- a/cmd/bd/label.go
+++ b/cmd/bd/label.go
@@ -98,6 +98,15 @@ var labelAddCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			resolvedIDs = append(resolvedIDs, fullID)
 		}
 		issueIDs = resolvedIDs
+
+		// Protect reserved label namespaces (bd-eijl)
+		// provides:* labels can only be added via 'bd ship' command
+		if strings.HasPrefix(label, "provides:") {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: 'provides:' labels are reserved for cross-project capabilities\n")
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Hint: use 'bd ship %s' instead\n", strings.TrimPrefix(label, "provides:"))
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+
 		processBatchLabelOperation(issueIDs, label, "added", jsonOutput,
 			func(issueID, lbl string) error {
 				_, err := daemonClient.AddLabel(&rpc.LabelAddArgs{ID: issueID, Label: lbl})
diff --git a/cmd/bd/ship.go b/cmd/bd/ship.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..04b14724
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/bd/ship.go
@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/rpc"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/storage/sqlite"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/types"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/ui"
+)
+
+var shipCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:   "ship <capability>",
+	Short: "Publish a capability for cross-project dependencies",
+	Long: `Ship a capability to satisfy cross-project dependencies.
+
+This command:
+  1. Finds issue with export:<capability> label
+  2. Validates issue is closed (or --force to override)
+  3. Adds provides:<capability> label
+
+External projects can depend on this capability using:
+  bd dep add <issue> external:<project>:<capability>
+
+The capability is resolved when the external project has a closed issue
+with the provides:<capability> label.
+
+Examples:
+  bd ship mol-run-assignee              # Ship the mol-run-assignee capability
+  bd ship mol-run-assignee --force      # Ship even if issue is not closed
+  bd ship mol-run-assignee --dry-run    # Preview without making changes`,
+	Args: cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+	Run:  runShip,
+}
+
+func runShip(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	CheckReadonly("ship")
+
+	capability := args[0]
+	force, _ := cmd.Flags().GetBool("force")
+	dryRun, _ := cmd.Flags().GetBool("dry-run")
+
+	ctx := rootCtx
+
+	// Find issue with export:<capability> label
+	exportLabel := "export:" + capability
+	providesLabel := "provides:" + capability
+
+	var issues []*types.Issue
+	var err error
+
+	// Ship requires direct store access for label operations
+	if daemonClient != nil && store == nil {
+		store, err = sqlite.New(ctx, dbPath)
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: failed to open database: %v\n", err)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+		defer func() { _ = store.Close() }()
+	}
+
+	if daemonClient != nil {
+		// Use RPC to list issues with the export label
+		listArgs := &rpc.ListArgs{
+			LabelsAny: []string{exportLabel},
+		}
+		resp, err := daemonClient.List(listArgs)
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error listing issues: %v\n", err)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(resp.Data, &issues); err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error unmarshaling issues: %v\n", err)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+	} else {
+		issues, err = store.GetIssuesByLabel(ctx, exportLabel)
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error listing issues: %v\n", err)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if len(issues) == 0 {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: no issue found with label '%s'\n", exportLabel)
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Hint: add the label first: bd label add <issue-id> %s\n", exportLabel)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
+	if len(issues) > 1 {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: multiple issues found with label '%s':\n", exportLabel)
+		for _, issue := range issues {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "  %s: %s (%s)\n", issue.ID, issue.Title, issue.Status)
+		}
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Hint: only one issue should have this label\n")
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
+	issue := issues[0]
+
+	// Validate issue is closed (unless --force)
+	if issue.Status != types.StatusClosed && !force {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: issue %s is not closed (status: %s)\n", issue.ID, issue.Status)
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Hint: close the issue first, or use --force to override\n")
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
+	// Check if already shipped (use direct store access)
+	hasProvides := false
+	labels, err := store.GetLabels(ctx, issue.ID)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error getting labels: %v\n", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+	for _, l := range labels {
+		if l == providesLabel {
+			hasProvides = true
+			break
+		}
+	}
+
+	if hasProvides {
+		if jsonOutput {
+			outputJSON(map[string]interface{}{
+				"status":     "already_shipped",
+				"capability": capability,
+				"issue_id":   issue.ID,
+			})
+		} else {
+			fmt.Printf("%s Capability '%s' already shipped (%s)\n",
+				ui.RenderPass("✓"), capability, issue.ID)
+		}
+		return
+	}
+
+	if dryRun {
+		if jsonOutput {
+			outputJSON(map[string]interface{}{
+				"status":     "dry_run",
+				"capability": capability,
+				"issue_id":   issue.ID,
+				"would_add":  providesLabel,
+			})
+		} else {
+			fmt.Printf("%s Would ship '%s' on %s (dry run)\n",
+				ui.RenderAccent("→"), capability, issue.ID)
+		}
+		return
+	}
+
+	// Add provides:<capability> label (use direct store access)
+	if err := store.AddLabel(ctx, issue.ID, providesLabel, actor); err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error adding label: %v\n", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+	markDirtyAndScheduleFlush()
+
+	if jsonOutput {
+		outputJSON(map[string]interface{}{
+			"status":     "shipped",
+			"capability": capability,
+			"issue_id":   issue.ID,
+			"label":      providesLabel,
+		})
+	} else {
+		fmt.Printf("%s Shipped %s (%s)\n",
+			ui.RenderPass("✓"), capability, issue.ID)
+		fmt.Printf("  Added label: %s\n", providesLabel)
+		fmt.Printf("\nExternal projects can now depend on: external:%s:%s\n",
+			"<this-project>", capability)
+	}
+}
+
+func init() {
+	shipCmd.Flags().Bool("force", false, "Ship even if issue is not closed")
+	shipCmd.Flags().Bool("dry-run", false, "Preview without making changes")
+
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(shipCmd)
+}