INTRODUCTION

Docking operation is one of most frequent activities in shipyard. However, the

existing dry dock arrangement practice heavily relies on dock masters experiences. It lacks
an optimized dock arrangement from a telescopic view.
In dock planning, dock block arrangement is a major focus. Dock blocks are to
support the deadweight of the ship and generally by far the greater portion of it is carried on
the center line or keel blocks. Dock blocks arrangement requires dock dry up and dewatering
a dock takes one or two days, but if the preparations work for the next ship can be paralleled
processed during the current docked ships repairing time, then the necessity of dock dry up
can be significantly reduced, thus shortens ship docking time.

PRE-DOCKING PREPARATION BY SHIP-STAFF

The main objective in carrying out dry docking is to ensure ships are operational and
to maintain their class license. Structural machinery and various components are subjected to
inspection and maintenance to ensure sea worthiness. Dry docking is also required if a ship
has sustained damage to the underwater structure due to grounding, collision or any other
damage which will affect the water integrity of the ships hull.

Ship staff needs to communicate with the dry dock Manager regarding the

vessels draught and trim to suit the dock construction.

Prepare all necessary documentation which may be required to complete the

docking operation and the expected workload inside the dock.

Calculate that the ship has adequate positive stability to withstand the
expected P forced that will affect the vessel when taking the keel blocks. The
GM should be large enough to compensate for a virtual rise in G once the

keel touches the blocks and the vessels enters the critical period.
To enhanced the positive stability all slacks tanks, and subsequent free surface

effects should either pressed up or alternatively pumped out if possible.

Any repair list should be completed and kept readily available to hand over to

the dock authorities.

All utilities required should be ordered in ample time to be supplied to the ship

on docking.
All stored rooms, toilets and ships compartments should be locked for the
purpose of the security and any loose gear should be stowed away before

entering the dock.

Rig fenders around the vessels before entry into the dock.
Plug and secure all upper deck scuppers to reduce the risk of pollution.

PRE-DOCKING PREPARATIONS BY SHIPYARD STAFF

The responsibility and duties of shipyard staff for preparations of docking;
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1) Make a repair and maintenance list, create or obtain a dry-dock handbook if required,
and assign responsible ship staff to their duties on the list. Divide staff into group to
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)

oversee the work carried out by yard gangs.

All spare parts must be checked and repair items kept ready for use.
Previous dry docks reports should be studied and previous clearance measures noted.
Clean engine room tank top and bilges.
Prepare sewage treatment tanks, dirty oil tanks and bilge tanks.
Flushing of bilge lines is to be carried out prior to dry dock.
The oil-water separator filter element should be renewed and the system checked for

satisfactory operations.
8) For tankers, all cargo tanks are cleaned and gas freed.
9) Minimum bunkers (fuel oil and fresh water) and ballast carried.
10) All heavy weight secured prior to dry dock.
11) All tanks and cofferdams must be sounded and recorded.
12) Fire fighting plan and safety measures discussed before dry dock.
13) Firefighting equipment on board should be checked and kept ready for use.
14) Emergency lighting and generator should be test before entry.
15) Escape routes must be clearly marked.
16) All valves and chests to be overhauled must be clearly marked.
17) Shore connections for cooling water and fire lines are to be readied.
18) Main engine, generators, and boiler are changed over to diesel oil.
19) CO2 total flooding system are secured and locked before entry.
20) Vessels must approach dock with even keel.

PREPARATION AFTER DOCKING

When the docking near the completion, the ships personnel as well as the shipyard
personnel will need to carry out with their respective checks on the vessel and around the
deck area. Once the ship has finished dry docking it may not be immediately ready for a
normal trading. There are many tests which must be carried out first. The dry dock is not the
loading port of the ship and hence the ship would leave the dock in the ballast condition on
route to its loading port.

Before water is pumped into the dock, there are a few checks that must be
made. Bottom plugs must be closed and sea chests should be in full working
condition. Also, ballasting of the ship must be done. This is to ensure that the

ships does not have an even keel draught.

The pump room, which is usually located at the forward end of the docks,
controls the amounts of water being pumped out of the dock. This is also

referred to as ballasting the dock.

The gangway is lifted sometimes by means of a crane once the dock personnel
have cleared the ship. Fire hydrants and all shore connections are

disconnected.
The forward and aft ends of the ships are attached to shore based mooring
lines which are winch controlled. A crane lifts these lines and place them on
the deck so that they can be attached. These help to control movements of the

ships as it leaves smoothly.

When the level of seawater in the dry dock reaches the sea level, the dock

gates are opened.

A tug boat attaches a tug line to the aft end of the ship and begins to pull the
ship backwards. The shore based mooring lines help to guide the ship
smoothly out of the dock. Another two tugboats are on standby on either side
of the ship.

Once the ships are halfway out of the dock, the aft shore based mooring lines
are disconnected and the standby two tugboats attach themselves to the ship by

means of tug lines.

When the ship has cleared the dock gates, the front shore based mooring lines

are detached and the tug boats turn the ship around.
Once the ship is some distance away from the dry dock, the tug lines from all
three tug boats are detached and the tug boats move away from the ship. The
propeller is then started and ship moves away on its own propulsion.

PRE-LAUNCH PREPARATIONS
In the completion of works in the shipyard and before launching or down slipping,
appropriate checks are to be made jointly by ship staff and project manager to ensure watertight integrity of underwater hull, valves and piping. If work was earlier done by the shipyard,
the checks will be the sole responsibility of the shipyard while ship staff monitors to avoid
warranty issues. However, if no work was done earlier on particular equipment and
appropriate checks are required before launching than the sole responsibility of checking rests
with the ship staff while the project manager or shipyard staff only monitors and take
remedial action if anything goes wrong. The following checks are normally carried out prior
launching of ship after completing its works in the shipyard.

Pressure testing of any lines or compartments as required.

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Checking of all electrical fittings.

Checking off the steering system
Checking of the propulsion system
Ensuring that all shipyard services such as electrical supply, telephone lines
and shore fire main connections are disconnected.

CONCLUSION
For a vessels maintain its class license, and comply with operational requirements, it
must carried out planned dry docking every five years for the renewal of the license. In cases
like collision or underwater damage, the vessel will be brought in for unplanned dry docking
for repair. The process from pre-docking and until the vessels launched, it is a critical process
which everybody on task should fully concentrated. It is to prevent from any misconduct and
can damage the ships as well involve re-work process. This can make costly and delayed the
project. So, every steps need to planned very well from start until the finished of docking
process.

REFERENCES

1) http://winhtutwin78.blogspot.com/2012/07/preparation-for-dry-docking.html.
2) Shipyard Management and Project Planning notes.