What is Drydocking?

Drydocking is the operation of

deliberately getting a ship out of water in
a place designed for this (drydock).
It is done for a variety of purposes and
by different methods.
It is a critical operation and requires
care and knowledge
1

Reasons for drydocking

Legal requirements
Convention: SOLAS Ch. 1 / Regs. 7 &10
Class requirements
Commercial contracts e.g. NSF in S & P of
ships

Emergency repair
Damage below waterline

Operational Efficiency
Hull efficiency; efficient maintenance
2

Types of Drydock
Graving or excavated dock
Dug into the ground
Stepped sides and dock gate
Dock gate open and dock
flooded
Ship moved in and aligned
over blocks
Dock gate closed and water
pumped out
Ship settles on blocks
3

Types of Drydock
Floating docks
Mobile pontoon with walls
Divided into tanks
When tanks filled with water,
whole dock submerges
Ship moved in and aligned over
blocks
Tanks emptied, dock rises to
the surface, ship settles on
blocks and is lifted clear of the
water
4

Types of Drydock
Slipways / Patent slip
Cradles placed on rails roll
into the water under the ship
Cradle pulled back by
winches
Ship comes up with cradle out
of the water

Types of Drydock
Synchrolift
Platform with a number of
winches lowered into water
Ship navigated above
platform
Winches haul up platform
Ship is lifted
Ship can then be moved
horizontally over the shipyard
(Ship transfer system STS)
6

Ship Transfer System

Types of Drydock
Hydrolift docking system
Similar to lock system for
raising and lowering ships
Principle same as in graving
dock
Used to move more than one
ship in or out of the drydocks
in one operation

People involved in drydocking

Shipping company
Commercial and operational (e.g.
Superintendents)

Drydock company
Commercial and operational (e.g.
Docking master)

Ship master and crew

Classification society
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Drydock entry
Cooperation between ship and dock

Choice of a dock
Docking plan
Positioning blocks
Large enough GM
Cargo position /tank soundings
Stability
Vessel upright
Small trim
No free surface effect (FSE)
Derricks/cranes/any cargo secured; hatches closed
Fore and aft peak tanks empty
Repair list
10

Arrangements in Dock
Dock and safety rules
No go area, PPE, patrols

Provision of utilities
Water, sewage disposal, power,
communications, pressurised fire main

Work monitoring
Tank plugs, hull work

Repositioning of cargo/things
Sail out in same stability condition
11

Topics for further reading

Emergency drydocking
Damage stability
Legal issues
Drydock work painting, anchors,
propeller etc

12

Bibliography
Ship knowledge, a modern encyclopaedia
By Claus van Dokkum
Seamanship Techniques shipboard and
marine operations Vol I, 2 and 3
By David J. House
The theory and practice of seamanship
By Graham Danton
Shipboard operations
By H. I. Lavery
13

Picture sources

http://www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk/birkenhead/drydock.
html

http://home.arcor.de/fredrik.matthaei/Hamburg/HAFEN1
6.htm

http://www.dutchsubmarines.com/pictures/pictures_my
stery_2.htm

http://www.shipyardpeters.nl/de/realship/100806.php3
Video of ship launching from slipway
14

Picture sources

http://www.syncrolift.com/products.html
Animation of synchrolift

http://www.rina.org.uk/showarticle.pl?n=700&id=36

http://www.tts-technology.no/templates/Page.aspx?
id=1019

http://tigris.marin.ntnu.no/byggeteknikk/start/techn
ology/Facilities/Docks%20and%20Berths//
Video of hydrolift docking system for 2 or more
ships

http://www.captain-net.com/destiny.htm
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Dry docking
Process: Dry Docking and Launching
Description
In dry docking, a ship is removed from the
water to enable work to be performed on
the exterior part of the ship below the
waterline. Ships are constructed on dry
docks. In launching, the new or repaired
ship is either floated in place or slid from
its berth.
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Dry docking
To prepare the dry dock, keel blocks are set
into position and lines and men to handle the
vessel are readied. A qualified dockmaster
supervises the operation. Dock-based
winches are usually used to position the ship
in the dock.
The most dangerous time in drydocking
occurs when support for the ship is changing
from water buoyancy to dry dock blocks. If
the strength of the blocks is insufficient, they
can be crushed, overturning the ship. 1
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Dry docking
Very large ships (tankers, aircraft carriers) are
often constructed in graving docks. 1
Ships are often launched as soon as the hull is
completed sufficiently to float safely. They are
then moved to an outfitting dock for
completion.2
Launching from a building berth may be
endwise, sidewise, or by in-place flotation. 2
Launching from a building dock is performed by
flooding the dock to the depth required to float
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the ship.

Dry docking
Careful planning and considerable expertise are
required to launch a ship by sliding it into the
water. Drag chains of predetermined weights are
used to control the ship's entry into the water.
Tugs are needed to control the ship after entry
into the water.3
Equipment
Marine Railway - a cradle of wood or steel on
rollers. The ship is placed on the cradle and
hauled out along a fixed inclined track. This
process is usually limited to ships less than
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1
5000 tons.

Dry docking
Floating Dry Dock - a structure with sealed
wing walls between which the ship is
positioned. Water is pumped out of the wing
walls to raise the ship clear of the water line.
Water is pumped back into the wing walls to
lower the ship back into the water.1
Graving Dock - an excavation in the ground
that can be flooded when a caisson (i.e., gate)
is opened. Once flooded, the ship is floated in,
the caisson closed, and the water is pumped
out of the excavation.1.
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Dry docking

Preparation before dry-docking

For Docking indent
Inspection for standard items
Hull condition and deformation areas and
dimension.
Inner hull member's crackness due to outer hull
deformation.
Inspection of Windlass, Mooring winch. (Gears
and Brake lining)
Anchors, cables and marking condition.
Inspection of chain locker. (Mucking, coating
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and corrosion)

Dry docking
Inspection of sea-chest valve & sea valves.
Rudder and propeller condition.
Ballast tanks conditions. (Manhole packing,
Mucking, Coating, Cathodic protection, Pipe
joints, Frames, Striking plate, 'U' brackets,
Deformation, Corrosion, Sounding pipes)
Forepeak, Aftpeak and Freshwater tanks
conditions.
Cargo holds, Cofferdams. (Corrosion and
Coating condition, Hatch coaming stays,
Closing arrangements, Hatch cover condition
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and packing)

Dry docking
List of repair items
Renewal of piping. (Position, size and length)
Cargo handling equipments. (Items which can
not done on board)
Ship's side rails and Bulwarks.
Electric cables.
Servicing and testing of Life saving appliances
and Fire fighting appliances.
Heavy weather damage. (If any)
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Dry docking

Modification list
Recommendation of class surveyor.
New mandatory equipment requirements.
New installation of Deck & Navigational
equipments.

Prior to Dry-docking
Docking Plan and Docking indent to be given to
company and Dockyard.
Determine sufficient stability for the critical
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period.

Dry docking

Free surface to be taken into account.

Considerations of require trim for docking. (According
to dockyard arrangement)
Prior docking preparation as recommended and
instructed by dockyard
Preparation for gas free inspection.
Requisition regarding spare parts, deck stores, cabin
stores in advance.
Briefing of officers and crew regarding docking,
repair, safety, hazards, regulations, watch
arrangement, contacts and reports.
Proper records to be made.
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Dry docking
Critical period
It is the period between the initial touch of the
keel to the block and until the overall keel took
place on the blocks. During this period the GM
will be gradually reduce; therefore it is require
sufficient GM through out the period.
Critical Instant

Critical instant is at any instant for particular

trim during critical period.
P = MCTC t

CF
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Dry docking
P = the up thrust at the stern in tonnes
t = the change of trim since entering the dry
dock in centimeters
l = the distance of the CF from aft in meters
Virtual loss of GM (MM1) = P KM

W
Virtual loss of GM (GG1) = P KG

(W-P)

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Dry docking

Cargo Ship Minimum Stability Criteria

Area under the GZ curve shall not be less than
(a) 0.055 m.r up to an angle of 30
(b) 0.09 m.r up to an angle of 40 OR the angle
at lower edges of any openings in the hull,
superstructures or deck house, being openings
which cannot be closed weather tight are
immersed if that angle be less than 40
(c) 0.03 m.r between the angles of 30 and 40
or such angle lesser angle referred in (b).
The righting lever shall be at least 0.2 m at an
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angle of heel equal to or greater than 30.

Dry docking
The maximum righting lever shall occur at an
angle of heel of not less than 30.
The initial transverse metacentric height (GM),
shall not be less than 0.15m.
Intact Stability Requirement For Any Ship
Carrying Bulk Grain
In the statical stability diagram, area under GZ
curve between 0 and 40 or the angle of
flooding or the angle of maximum GZ,
whichever is the least, shall in all conditions of
29
loading be not less than 0.075 m.r

Dry docking
The angle of heel due to grain shift shall not be
greater than 12 or the angle at which the deck
edge is immersed, whichever is lesser.
The initial metacentric height, after correction
for the free surface effects of liquid in tanks,
shall not be less than 0.3m
Before loading, demonstrate the ability of the
ship at all stages of any voyage to comply with
the stability criteria required.
After loading, the master shall ensure the ship
30
is upright before proceeding to sea.

Dry docking

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Dry docking
Heeling arm curve is the line joining A to B in the
above diagram. It is due to transverse grain shift,
the dynamical stability is reduced to residual
dynamic stability.
A = Assumed Volumetric H. M due to grain shift

Stowage factor Displacement

B = A 0.8 (Cosine 40)

Volumetric heeling moment can be taken from

the Document of authorization accompany with
Grain loading stability booklet for each
compartment for the present loading condition.
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Dry docking
Contents of Grain Loading Manual (Document
of Authorization)
Ship's particulars.
Lightship displacement & KG.
Table of liquid free surface corrections.
Capacities and Centre of gravity.
Curve or table of angle of flooding.
Curve or tables of hydrostatic properties.
Cross curve of stability.
Curves or table of volume, VCG of volumes
33
and assumed VHM for every compartments.

Dry docking

Details of scantlings of any fitting.

Loading instruction.
Worked example.
Example of conditions
Ships without Document of Authorization carrying
partial cargoes of Bulk grain
Total weight of the Bulk grain shall not exceed of the
deadweight of the ship.
Filled compartments, trimmed, shall fitted centerline
division, for the full length. Downwards from deck or
hatch covers to a distance of the max breadth of the
compartment or 2.4 m, whichever is greater .
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Dry docking
All hatches to filled compartment, trimmed and secured in
place.
All free grain surfaces in partly filled space to be trimmed and
secured.
Corrected GM shall not be less 0.3 m.
To be demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Administration of
the Contracting Government of the port of loading.
Bulk Grains Securing Methods
1. Saucers
2. Bundling of bulk grain
3. Over stowing arrangements
4. Strapping or lashing
5. Securing with wire mesh
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