Dry Dock Entry Planning
A poorly planned dry dock entry costs far more in ship downtime than it would have cost in preparation: the repair specification and shipyard coordination start months in advance, not at departure.
Operational Explanation
Entering a dry dock is an event planned well in advance (typically 6-12 months ahead), combining mandatory survey requirements (Class and statutory) with extraordinary maintenance work that cannot be carried out afloat. Poor planning almost always translates into a prolonged docking period, with significant direct costs (dock hire) and indirect costs (lost commercial earnings).
The repair specification is the central document: it must be detailed enough to allow the shipyard to correctly quote and organize resources, while remaining flexible enough to handle the additional (extra) work that almost always emerges during the in-dock inspection.
Regulatory Reference
There is no single convention dedicated to dry dock planning, but the entry must satisfy the requirements of SOLAS Chapter I, Regulation 10 (periodical inspections of the ship's bottom) and the survey requirements of the applicable Classification Society (Special/Renewal Survey, Intermediate Survey, according to the five-year cycle).
Scope of Application
Every ship subject to periodic survey requiring inspection of the bottom and of equipment not accessible while afloat (propellers, rudder, sea chests, cooling systems).
Procedure / How to Complete It
- Draft the repair specification well in advance, including mandatory survey requirements and planned maintenance work.
- Request quotes from multiple shipyards, verifying dock availability within the required time window.
- Coordinate with the Classification Society the surveyor's presence for surveys to be conducted in dock.
- Plan the sequence of work to minimize total time in dock, identifying work on the critical path.
- Allow a contingency margin for additional work that typically emerges during the in-dock inspection (e.g. unforeseen corrosion).
Practical Example
Example of planning: repair specification drafted 8 months before dry dock entry, including the Class special survey, sacrificial anode replacement, rudder and sea chest overhaul, with a 15% budget contingency for unforeseen additional work.
Real Cases
Common Mistakes Mistake Library
| Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Repair specification drafted too late or too generically | Difficulty obtaining comparable quotes and risk of underestimating time | Draft the specification well in advance and in as much detail as possible |
| No contingency margin for unforeseen additional work | Prolonged docking time with unplanned cost impact | Always allow a contingency margin in time and budget |
| Coordination with the Classification Society started only close to dry dock entry | Risk of surveyor unavailability within the required window | Coordinate the surveyor's presence well in advance, in parallel with shipyard planning |
PSC Observations
Operational Tips
- Start dry dock planning at least 6-12 months before the expected window, never reduce this margin to save apparent time.
- Always allow a time and budget contingency for additional work: it almost always emerges.
- Coordinate the Class surveyor's presence in parallel with shipyard planning, not afterwards.
Checklist
- Repair specification drafted well in advance and in the necessary detail
- Quotes requested from multiple shipyards with verified availability
- Class surveyor's presence coordinated in advance
- Sequence of work planned to minimize the critical path
- Contingency margin allowed for additional work