Dry-Docks

Dry Dock Periods

A docking survey should be carried out twice within a 5 year period. The intermediate survey must be
completed within 3 years. One of the two docking surveys within the 5 year period should coincide with a
special survey. A Docking Survey is considered to coincide with the Special Survey when held within the
15 months prior to the due date of the Special Survey

An in water survey may be accepted in lieu of the intermediate survey

For vessels operating in fresh water special consideration may be given.

In-water Surveys

An In-water Survey may be accepted in lieu of the intermediate docking between Special Surveys, an
*IWS notation is assigned. This requires suitable underwater protection for the hull in part taking the form
of high resistance paint. This survey is to provide information normally obtained from a docking survey.
The In-water Survey is to be carried out at agreed geographical locations under the surveillance of a
Surveyor to LR, with the ship at a suitable draught in sheltered waters; the in-water visibility is to be good
and the hull below the waterline is to be clean. The Surveyor is to be satisfied that the method of pictorial
presentation is satisfactory. There is to be good two-way communication between the Surveyor and the
appropriately qualified diver.

Should damage be found a dry dock may be required for better inspection

Dry Dock file

Preparation for dry dock begins after the ship sails from its previous one. A dry-dock list of new items is
created with specification sheets describing individual jobs. These sheets are compiled into a dry dock file
which some time before the due date of the docking is submitted to several dry docks for pricing.
The jobs are priced individually and as a whole. This allows the ship managers to streamline the jobs to
provide maximum value for money.

Preparation

The vessel must be prepared before entering the dry dock. Structural loading must be taken into account
as the vessel is to be point supported on blocks. A docking plan of the ships which shows such things as
drain plugs, sea boxes, underwater attachments etc is sent to the dry dock. Added to this are indications
where hull repairs are required. This allows the drydock ship managers to place the blocks on which the
vessel will sit.
The vessel must be trimmed so as to be equal draught with zero list. Special attention should be made
when planning this for any tanks whose contents may be varied due to repair or housekeeping
requirements.

In dock

The safety and fire fighting responsibilities of the vessel are handed over to the dry dock safety
department for the duration of the dry and wet dock period. All hot work, tank entry or jobs requiring
special safety measures carried out by ships crew must be first agreed with the dry dock safety
department. A daily meeting is held to discuss forth coming jobs and any special requirements. This also
allows the vessels staff and company representatives to monitor the progress of the dock.

Inspections & Measurements

 Where a ship is in dry-dock or on a slipway it is to be placed on blocks of sufficient height, and

proper staging is to be erected as may be necessary, for the examination of the shell including
bottom and bow plating, keel, stern, sternframe and rudder. The rudder is to be lifted for
examination of the pintles if considered necessary by the Surveyor.
 Attention is to be given to parts of the structure particularly liable to excessive corrosion or to
deterioration from causes, such as chafing and lying on the ground, and to any undue
unfairness of the plating of the bottom.
 The clearances in the rudder bearings are to be measured.
 The sea connections and overboard discharge valves and their attachments to the hull are to
be examined.
 The propeller, sternbush and sea connection fastenings and the gratings at the sea inlets are
to be examined.
 The clearance in the sternbush or the efficiency of the oil glands is to be ascertained.
 When chain cables are ranged, the anchors and cables are to be examined by the Surveyor