Dry Docking Procedure

The procedure for the dry docking of a ship is not a spontaneous one. It
takes months of planning, considering meticulous details about the ship and
preparing the dock accordingly. Even the slightest mistake in calculations can
lead to drastic consequences.
The phases of dry docking are as follows:

Phase 1: Pre-docking Preparation

The process of dry docking of a ship needs to be planned meticulously. Days
before a ship is to be dry docked, the dock master will prepare a docking
plan, taking into consideration all the minute details of the structure of the
ship, i.e. hull structure of the ship, locations of the drain plugs, and echo
sounders beneath the ship so as to not damage them during docking the
ship.
Phase 2: Preparing a Docking Plan
The process of dry docking of a ship needs to be carefully planned to be
executed with ease. Dock Masters and designers take aid of a series of
sketches and detailed calculations about the ship’s height, weight, and
structure. The docking plan explains how to successfully dock the ship and
also how to easily undock it. It also reduces the risk of a ship capsizing during
undocking.
Phase 3: Understanding the Stability Conditions
It is imperative for the ship to be stable while docking. The weight distribution
of the ship that is to be docked needs to be calculated accurately. Since
almost the entire weight of the ship is borne by the keel blocks, the slightest
error in the calculations of the stability conditions can lead to a mishap.
Hence, the stability condition of the ship is analysed perfectly before the
actual process begins.
Phase 4: Arrival
The ship has to adhere to all the stability conditions on its arrival to the dry
docking port. The propeller of the ship also needs to be immersed and the
ship needs to have the least ballast. It is best to avoid dry docking if there is
a chance of a rough weather. The cleaners and dock master then board the
vessel.
Phase 5: The Actual Docking
 Once the ship has successfully achieved the pre-docking conditions, the ship
is to be tugged into the dock since its engine is not available. When the ship
is inside the docks, the ship is moored and made secure. The crew then takes
over and starts pumping out dock water, running the ballast pump, and
removing the drain plugs, amongst other cleaning procedures.
What is the Scope of Dry Docking?
When a vessel is dry docked, the crew starts with checking the most
important parts of the ship for any visible and internal damage. Repairing all
major as well as minor faults in the ship goes a long way in increasing its
productivity.
Here are some of the activities carried out in the maintenance procedure
after a ship is dry docked.
 Thickness Gauging
The construction of the vessel hull needs to be carefully scrutinised for
damages since it is in constant contact with the sea water. Even if the hull is
not visibly damaged, its thickness must be tested to avoid any mishaps.
The docking crew measures the thickness of this hull using an ultrasonic
gauge for the purpose. It measures the time interval between consecutive
echo signals reflected from the surface of the hull. The paint on the surface of
the hull does not hinder the calculations in this method; hence it is the most
efficient way of testing the thickness of a ship’s hull.
 Destructive & Non-Destructive Testing
Destructive testing involves breaking down or damaging certain parts of the
ship just to test their strength. It involves rebuilding the same part to endure
more damage and be more durable.
Non-Destructive testing evaluates materials and parts of the ship without
disabling or destroying any of its features. It is a smarter and more efficient
option when it comes to testing the materials aboard a ship. Some of the
non-destructive testing methods include ultrasonic testing, visual inspection,
and liquid penetration technique.
 High Pressure Washing
This method is used to clean the ship’s hull of bio foul and dirt that have
collected on the hull over time. The presence of algae and other bio foul on
the surface of the hull increases its corrosion. It is important that the hull be
cleaned and high-pressure washing is the most efficient way to do this. High-
pressure washing involves the removal of the fouling with the help of manual
 gun systems and high-pressure water jets. They also make use of rotating
nozzles to clean large areas of the hull.
 Underwater Repair & Diving
Underwater repair deals with the inspection and repair of the ship while it is
in the sea. A number of companies who offer these services specialise in
examining the ship’s surface for flaws that can only be seen in water. They
make use of advance machinery, such as underwater welding, to repair
damaged propellers while the ship is in the water.
 Blasting & Hull Painting
Blasting is the protective layer put on the hull to make it ready for the
application of paint. It gives a good profile to the metal before it is painted. A
good layer of paint minimises the corrosion of the ship’s hull.
 Anchor & Chain Servicing
The chains and anchor on a ship are mostly used to stabilize it during times
of rough weather. Over time, the anchor and chain which are mostly made of
iron start to rust and erode. Hence it is necessary for the anchor and chain to
be replaced or maintained regularly.
 Robotic Scanning
Inspecting a ship manually can be tedious at times. Thanks to the rapid
development of technology, the inspection of an entire ship can be done
quickly and more thoroughly with the help of robots. Robots have been
developed to scan ships for inaccuracies, abnormalities and other faults. Such
type of quick detection reduces the time needed to repair such damages.
The efficiency of a ship depends on how well all the machinery and operating
systems of the ships are maintained. Hence, ships are expected to be dry
docked twice in every five years. The process is obviously an important one,
but the cost of dry docking a ship is massive. It is necessary for the ship to
spend the minimum time being dry docked. The more time a ship spends on
the dock, the lesser it will make financially.
To speed up the process of ship repairs, several ship repair and maintenance
service providers now try to reduce the dry docking period for the ship.
There are several advantages of reduced dry docking. A reduced dry docking
period will ensure a more efficient way of fixing ships. The faster ships are
dry docked and repaired, the more vessels can come in. Using coating
systems and abrasive blasting enables the surface of the ship to dry faster,
thus considerably reducing the time of a ship in the docks.
Endnote
Though it may seem like a simple process, dry docking is a complicated and
an expensive procedure that involves intricate planning. The process is
absolutely necessary for maintaining ships, submarines, and other vessels, so
that they can function at optimum efficiency for a longer duration.
With reduced dry docking and the presence of several companies in India
that provide dry docking quality repairs and maintenance services has
become easier and faster than ever.

**********************