DOCK ENGINEERING

DOCK

Docks are enclosed areas for berthing ships, to keep them

afloat at a uniform level, to facilitate loading and unloading
for cargo and passengers.

Classification of docks
1.

Wet docks

2.

Dry docks

Wet docks (harbour docks)

Docks which are used for berthing of vessels to facilitate loading and
unloading of passengers and cargo

Dry docks

Docks which are used for repairs of vessels

Classification of wet docks

Wet dock in tidal basins

Harbours are prone to be affected by the tides, which may cause changes in the water
level
Thus in ports on the sea coast protected by the outlying breakwater, basins are
formed within its shelter. In these basins, pier walls are protected by an right angles to
the shore alongside which vessels can lie and discharge their cargos

Wet docks enclosed or impounded basins

Docks are enclosed and shut off by entrances by locks to maintain a fairly
uniform level of water
The docks are formed by enclosures where the tidal ranges are very marked
and large
The water level in the enclosures shd be maintained at constant level by
providing locks and gates

Dock entrances
Vessels can enter docks either directly or through locks. In either case,
gates are provided for dock entrances
Types of gates
Wooden or iron gates
Caissons

Caissons
Two kinds of caissons
Sliding caisson

It consists of a box shaped steel structure stiffened internally with proper

bracing. It is provided with steel keels sliding on smooth granite floor.
Instead of the keels, the caissons could be moved on rollers and rails. The
entrance is opened by hauling the caisson into recess provided in the side
of the dock. The caisson also serves as a bridge across the dock entrance.

Ship caisson
It resembles the outline of a ship in c/s and is constructed of steel
with stiffeners at proper intervals. It is floated into position and sunk

into specially prepared grooves in the dock sides and sill. The sinking
and raising of the caisson is done by ballasting and unballasting
respectively. This type does not require any gate recess or machinery

for moving.

Classification of repairing facilities

Repairing facilities in fixed form
Graving dry dock
Marine railway dry dock or slipway
Lift docks
Repairing facilities in movable form

Floating docks
Depositing docks

Floating dry dock

It may be defined as a floating vessel which can lift a ship out of water and
retain it above water by means of its own buoyancy
It is a hallow structure of steel or reinforced cement concrete consisting of
2 side walls and a floor, with the ends open.
To receive a ship, the structure is sunk to required depth by ballasting its
interior chambers with water, the ship in then floated into position and
berthed. The dock is raised bodily with the berthed ship by unballasting the
chambers by pumping out the water

Types of floating docks

Rigid type floating docks

In this type the side walls are rigidly fixed to the pontoon or bottom section
The floor portion is divided into a number of chambers, so as to assist in canting the
dock if necessary to berth damaged ships, by partial unballasting of the chambers

Self docking type floating docks

This type is divided into sections longitudinally, and one of which is capable of being
lifted and docked on the remainder of the dock for the purpose of cleaning, painting
or repairing

Self docking offshore type floating docks

This type has no side wall on water side and has an L shaped cross section.
The side walls is connected to the shore by hinged parallel booms capable of lifting
or lowering the dock.
The ship to be docked, could be brought on to the dock from either end or sideways.

Slipways/ marine railway/ slip dock

It is an inclined railway extending from the shore well into water as well as
the foreshore, to enable a ship to be drawn up clear out of the water.
The essential parts are

Cradle- which moves up and down on inclined track

Track- supported on an unyielding and firm foundation
Cradle or platform is constructed of steel and provided with keel and bilge blocks to
receive the ship.
The cradle is mounted on a system of rollers which move on iron tracks carried by
longitudinal timbers, supported on cross ties or beams bearing on piles or other firm
foundations
Strong cables are attached to the shore end of the cradle to haul the cradle.
Hauling is operated by strong mechanical winches built on the shore

The way consists of heavy rails secured to longitudinal sleepers

supported on cross ties are laid at an inclination varying from 1 in 15
to 1 in 20.
a locking device for safety pawls under the cradle is placed in the
centre of the ways, to keep the cradle from slipping down when the
hauling cable breaks.
For dry docking, the cradle is moved down into deep water and the ship
to be docked is towered over the cradle and positioned to rest on keel
and bilge blocks set on floor and moored to the towers on either side
of cradle. The cradle slowly emerges above the high water level,
when hauled up the ways, permitting the ship to come to rest, on the
cradle floor as the cable reaches the normal docking position.

Dredging
Draft for a ship is the vertical linear immersion of ship floating in
stable condition safely. Navigable depth of water is draft added with
vertical clearance at bottom of ship. If the navigable depth required
for ship is greater than depth of water available at site ship cannot
enter the harbour. So inorder to provide an access for sea traffic the
basin characteristics should be modified, ie excavation of bed below
water. This known as dredging.

TYPES OF DREDGING DEVICES

Dipper dredge
Grapple dredge
Continuous bucket elevator/ ladder dredge
Hydraulic or suction dredge

 Dipper

dredge

It consists of floating vessel strongly constructed,

carrying an inclined frame A in the bow to hold the
boom B by guy wires.
Through the middle of the boom runs a dipper stick,
worked by a rack and pinion arrangement and to the
end of which is rigidly attached the dipper bucket K,
with a flap
A hoist cable is fixed to the bucket, to move it up or
down
The vessel is fixed to the bed in position by means of
three stakes during dredging operations.

Operation

The hoist cable is released, to enable the bucket to reach

the bed .
By applying a continuous force on the stick through the
rack and pinion arrangement helps the teeth of the bucket
to bite into soil.
The hoist cable is slowly pulled resulting in a cut being
made in the bed.
The hoisting is continued and the bucket is hauled out of
water.
The boom is swung round to deposit the material in bucket
in a predetermined place by opening flap
The boom is swung back and the dipper is lowered in
preparation of new cut

Advantages

Easy maneuverability
Suitable in confined spaces around docks and
narrow channels
Very powerful and capable of excavating in hard soil,
for removal of boulders, and breaking of heavy
objects like old piles, cribs etc.
This can dig in depths upto 15 m of water
Capacity varies from 1 to 4 m3
Can excavate soil and deposit on either on bank or on
floating barge

 Grabble

dredge

Consists of a hull, to the front of which are fixed a

frame and a boom B.
The frame is guyed back, by back legs.
A grab bucket K is suspended by two cable lines HH
called the opening and closing lines
The boom is fixed at the required elevation by means
of a guy wire and arranged to rotate through a
horizontal angle on a pivot at the lower end.
The bucket hoisting lines pass over two main sheaves
fixed to the upper end of the boom
The dredge is moored by the help of stakes fixed fore
and aft.

Operation

After positioning the dredge, a scow is brought alongside

and tied fast to it, on right side.
The bucket is lowered to the bottom, where it bites the
bed and fills itself.
Tension is put on the closing cable, which closes the
bucket, hoist the load and swings the boom horizontally
to the right.
When the boom reaches over to the scow, the tensions in
the cables are reversed, results in opening and discharging
of bucket.
The boom swings back to the digging position and the
above procedure is repeated

Advantages
Very efficient and suitable for dredging materials like
sand, clay or mud.
Not good for hard digging

 Continuous

bucket elevator or ladder dredge

Consists of an endless chain of buckets, mounted

and running round a ladder, formed in the middle of
the bow of a floating vessel.
The ladder could be lowered or raised by the line N.
The chain of the bucket is operated manually or
mechanically by a big wheel E.
The buckets are provided with pronged cutting edges

Operation
Each bucket cuts and brings up material to the top of
the ladder as the chain moves round, where each
bucket inverts on descent and discharges its contents
into special holes H H.
The vessel moves forward on completion of work at
each section. (size of vessel- 60 m length; 15 m width:
2.5 m to 3m draft)
Used for digging depths of 9 to 12 m.
Capacity 6000 to 7650 m3 per day

Advantages

Suitable for handling - Coarse gravel or sand, hard

clays and even soft or broken stone, at fairly good
depths

 Hydraulic

or suction dredge

Consists of a suction pipe, carrying at lower end a

cutter of some sort and having a universal joint at the
top.
The pipe is supported on a ladder and held in position
by an A frame mounted on the bow of the dredging
vessel.
The suction pipe is connected to a centrifugal pump
located amidships having a long flexible delivery pipe
discharging into hopper barges alongside the vessel
itself or on to specially selected spot on shore,
needing reclaiming or filling

Operation

The hull V carries the suction pipe on a ladder in the

bow and the pumping machinery P is housed in the
middle of the ship with its delivery pipe D discharging
into hopper barges floating behind the dredging vessel.
The cutter is suspended from a frame in front and the
vessels is moored by anchors.
The cutter rotates, cuts and loosens the soil for quick and
easy suction by the pump.
The cut up material is well churned in the operation and
mixed with water to facilitate suction
Size : Length - 45 m to 140m
Width - 9 to 30 m
Digging depth 4.5 to 15 m

Advantages
Very effective in the beds of sand, silt, mud and clay
in open water and is an excellent machine to clear
sand bars.
The gravels and soft rocks are easily reduced by the
cutter.