The Docking Procedure
Prior entry into the dock, the shipyard would need to make the
necessary keel block arrangements to prepare for the ship's arrival.
When the ship is on route to the dock, communications between the
ship's Officer and the Dock Manager should be established so that the
reuired draughts and trim can be ad!usted on the ship as for normal
dock entry. "n the case when the ships is entering the dock in a
damaged state, the reuired draughts and trim may not be attainable.
#his case would reuire the ship to be docked in a floating dock $which
will not be e%plained here&.
#here are various duties and logs that need to be taken before and
when the ship is entering the dock. #hese are summari'ed in the topics
descussed below(
Duties of ship's Master during controlled entry into a dock
Duties of ship's )hief Officer when entering dock
*og +ook ,ntries when entering dock
#he Docking Process
Duties of ship's Master during controlled
entry into a dock
#urn stabilisers into their stowed position
Withdraw any engine room bottom speed logs into the stow position
*ower any cranes or derricks to the stowed sea-going position
Place all hatch covers and athwartships beams into position to ensure
continuity of strength throughout the length of the vessel
)omplete any ballast operations to satisfy the docking reuirements
regarding list and trim
.educe any free surface activity within tank levels where possible
+rief the ships )hief Officer of the need to obtain 'wet soundings' as
well as 'on the block' 'dry soundings'
Duties of ship's Chief Officer when entering
dock
/ound round all internal tank soundings $wet soundings& before
entering the dry dock
)ommunicate with the Dry Dock Manager regarding the vessels'
draught and trim to suit the dock construction
Prepare all necessary documenation which may be reuired to
complete the docking operation and the e%pected workload inside the
dock
)alculate that the ship has adeuate positive stability to withstand the
e%pected 'P' force that will affect the vessel when taking the keel blocks.
#he 0M should be large enough to compensate for a virtual rise in '0'
once the keel touches the blocks and the vessel enters the critical
period
#o enhance the positive stability all slack tanks, and subseuent free
surface effects should either 'pressed up' or alternatively pumped out if
possible
1ny repair list should be completed and kept readily avialable to hand
over to the dock authorities
1ll utilities reuired should be ordered in ample time to be supplied to
the ship on docking
1ll store rooms, toilets and ships cmopartments should be locked for
the purpose of security and any loose gear should be stowed away
before entering the dock
.ig fenders around the vessel before entry into the dock
Plug and secure all upper deck scuppers to reduce the risk of
pollution
Log Book Entries when entering dock
-#ugs engaged at rende'vous position
-2essel proceeding towards open lock $usually under piolatage&
-*ine ahore foward and aft
-#ugs dismissed
-Moorings carried up port3starboard
-/tern clears gates
-2essel stopped making headway inside the dock
-Dock gates closed
-Moorings checked to hold vessel
-Moorings ad!usted to align ship fore and aft
-Dock pumps commenced pumping out dock water
-+lock contact made and vessel enters critical period
-2essel sewed on blocks fore and aft
-/ide shores passed to port and starboard
-.esidual water cleared from dock
-0angway access landed between shore and ships side
-0angway walkable
-Pilot dismissed
-Pumping of the dock complete and dock floor walkable
The Docking Process
When it is decided that a ship is to enter the dry dock the first thing that is
done is the keel block arrangement. This is done by the Asst Dock Manager.
The centre keel block arrangement is always the same. However, the rest of the
keel blocks are arranged according to the ships' strctre. These are based on
the ships constrction drawings.
Docking of any ship depends on the ship's draght. !t is important to note the
draght of the ship so as to estimate the tide at which she shold enter the dock.
The draghts of container ships are sally "#$m and for tankers abot %m.
When the ship is near the entrance of the dock, a crane is sed to lift wires to
secre the whip to the dock winches. Two winches are secred at the aft end
and two at the forward end of the ship. These winches are sed to gide the
ship into the dock and bring it to the e&act spot at which it shold be laid on the
keel blocks. A ship entering a dry dock is shown in the pictre below'
(nce the ship is braght directly above the keel blocks on which it will be
laid on, divers are sent in the dock to ensre the ship sits e&actly on the keel
blocks as the water is being pmped ot of the dock.
The pmp room located at the foward end of the dock controls the rate of
water being pmped ot of the dock. This process can also be refered to as de#
ballasting the dock. This is what a ship will look like after the dock is flly de#
ballasted.
(nce the ship sits properly on the keel blocks, fire hydrants, safety signs and
a shore gangway is attached to it. )afety personnel then inspect the ship and
mark dangeros areas on it with a Red tape. This is done so that hot work can
be carried ot with care. An e&le of sch an area wold be the fel oil
tanks.
Application for all the necessary permits are then made. These permits
inclde hot work permit, cold work and enclosed space permits. *as checks are
also carried ot in enclosed spaces every day to ensre ma&imm safety.
