DRYDOCKING 101

READINESS

Establishing Dry Dock/Vessel Communication

The Dock Master must obtain all information pertaining to the drydocking and undocking evolutions and have a clear understanding of the full scope of work to be accomplished during the lay period. It is important to establish of lines of communication between the ship, the dry dock, and any other organizations involved so that questions can be easily raised and answered.

When communicating with the ship or dry dock, the Dock Master should bear in mind that all parties have the common objective to dry dock the ship safely and efficiently. Secondary issues such as seniority or financial disagreements may disguise this common purpose. Under such circumstances, an important role of the Dock Master is to assure adherence to the primary objective and not to allow secondary issues to divert important resources or to diminish the ship-shipyard cooperation essential for achieving the best possible drydocking.

Other tools for open and clear communication are the Drydocking Notice and the Drydocking Conference.

Drydocking Notice

The Drydocking Notice is the first document sent to the ship. This document provides the schedule of the drydocking, a detailed discussion of the drydocking, drydocking procedure, regulations for a ship in the dry dock, services available, safety, etc. The Drydocking Notice should serve as the ship’s reference document for expectations for the ship’s preparation for drydocking and while in the dry dock. It is a detailed instruction document.

The Drydocking Notice should include:

– Time and location of the Drydocking Conference

– Docking Plans and intended docking position

– Acceptable ship trim, list and ship loading conditions

– Acceptable tank loading conditions

– Request of notification for any movements of weights aboard ship

– Storage of retractable underwater equipment

– Positioning of propellers and rudders

– Ship’s crew responsibilities for the drydocking

– Schedule of the ship is in the dry dock.

Drydocking Conference

The Drydocking Conference is a meeting with the ship at which the Dock Master can review with the ship the contents of the Drydocking Notice and answer questions. It also provides an opportunity to discuss the drydocking operation and to explain why some of the requirements are imposed upon the ship. In addition, the visit for the conference is a proper time to:

– Verify the drydocking position.

– Verify the current Docking Plan; review the ship’s copy of the docking plan, and the most recent drydocking reports.

– Obtain the latest information regarding special work to accomplish in dry dock or other special requirements.

– Obtain current data on expected drydocking list, trim, loading, and stability.

The professional expertise of the Dock Master in conducting the Drydocking Conference, and their ability to convey the shipyard’s commitment to providing an excellent drydocking are key elements in establishing the cooperative spirit and excellent communication between ship and Dock Master.

Following the formal conference, Dock Masters should make themselves readily available to the ship for further meetings. The Dock Master may require additional meetings with the ship if changes in the scope of the planned dry dock work.

Provided below are an example Drydocking Notice and an example Drydocking Conference Agenda. They are only examples. The conditions and responsibilities for each dry dock, shipyard, and ship can be different. Thus, the Drydocking Notice and Drydocking Conference will be modified to the unique situation.                                                                                     (…more)

1. Line and Line Stations: Stand by your lines This means all personnel designated for each line or line station man their lines and be ready to take line handling direction from the line handling supervisor.
2. Let go, or Let go all lines This directs the line handlers to smartly slack off of lines to permit lines tending on a pier, tug or ship to be cast off.
3. Send the lines over This will be the command when lines are to be passed to a ship, tug, or pier, and will normally be accomplished by use of a heaving line or messenger. Care must be taken that the correct end of the line, most usually the end of the line with the eye to be placed over the bit or bollard, is the end of the line that is sent over.
4. Hold what you’ve got This means to hold the line as it is.
5. Check your line Means to slack your line just enough to let it ride with a heavy strain off a bit, cleat or bollard.
6. Shift your line This means to remove your line from the bit or cleat where it is working now and move it to another attachment bit or cleat, as directed by the line handling supervisor.
7. Cast off your line This command will be given when you are to let your end of the line go, to either fall in the water, or to be retrieved by persons handling the opposite end of the line.
8. Single up Take in all bights and runs of extra lines so that there only remains one strand or run of line.
9. Double up Pass additional runs of the line to the corresponding attachment points of the single run line.
10. Take in all lines This order will normally be given at the end of an operation when line handling will no longer have an effect on the evolution. The lines will be brought to your station.

Follow us on:

Menu