The Dockmasters Journal - Volume 1, Issue 3
December 2024
Editor: Waleed (Wally) Sayed, P.E., M. ASCE
A publication focused on Dry Docks presented by Dock Masters, Dry Dock Engineers, Operators, and Owners.
Our mission is to focus on the diverse world of dry dock facilities, showcase their successes and unique capabilities, disseminate industry specific knowledge, and share lessons learned from dry dock incidents with a positive presentation.
In this month’s edition:
⦿ A Note from the Editor
⦿ Questions for the Editor
⦿ Main Article: Dry Dock Certification Standards-What is USCG SFLC STD SPEC 8634, Dry Docking?
⦿ Community Highlight
⦿ So, this one time, I was on a dry dock...
A Note from the Editor:
WorkBoat 2024 in New Orleans was a fantastic event and it was a great opportunity to meet so many wonderful people who make up a large part of our maritime industry. One of my biggest takeaways came from a breakfast hosted by the Small Shipyard Grant Coalition (SSGC). The US Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) administers the Small Shipyard Grant Program as authorized by Congress. These grants are awarded by MARAD to qualified small shipyard applicants as a supplement to their annual capital spending. These grants can be used to address many small shipyards’ needs such as training, new equipment, and maintenance including dry dock maintenance. Even a new dry dock. Since it is our Congress that authorizes the funding, it is imperative that our coastal and inland waterway representatives continue to support and hopefully increase the funding available. If you are a small shipyard, please consider joining the SSGC as they work on your behalf to remind Congress of the vital importance to our national security your continuous operation and success in an ever-changing world provides. And we can all do our part by writing to our local and state representatives and voicing our support for the MARAD Small Shipyard Grant Program.
“A ship in dry dock is safe, but that’s not what ships are meant for.”
Questions for the Editor:
Q) What is the purpose of a buoyancy chamber on a floating dry dock?
A) A buoyancy chamber is a narrow non-floodable void along the centerline of a floating dry dock which subdivides each longitudinal tank group into a port and starboard side. While the use of a buoyancy chamber assists with damage stability, increases longitudinal strength and provides increased keel load capacity (in rare cases they can be pre-flooded for increased depth), its primary purpose was devised by the legendary US Naval dry dock engineer Rear Admiral Frederic R. Harris (Ret.). A properly designed buoyancy chamber should generate the equivalent lightweight displacement of the dry dock. The higher ballast water level in the wing wall allows for a higher safety deck which results in a reduced head pressure differential which results in thinner plating and stiffeners in the wing wall design.
Dry Dock Certification Standards - What is United States Coast Guard Surface Fleet
Logistics Command Standard Specification 8634, Dry Docking?
USCG SFLC STD SPEC 8634, Dry Docking, provides detailed instructions for safely drydocking a USCG surface vessel. In fact, it is so comprehensive, it should be considered a general standard for every shipyard drydocking a vessel. This publicly available Specification covers every type of dry dock facility including floating dry docks, graving docks, marine railways, vertical lifts, cranes and lifting cradles. Following this standard, dry dock facilities are classed or certified by independent third parties, not the USCG, to dry dock USCG surface assets. The USCG reviews the shipyards drydocking bid submittal and either accepts it or rejects it. Certification to this standard is a requirement for drydocking any USCG surface asset. Note that this Specification is for safety of the vessel only and does not cover dry dock design and maintenance. That is provided in ASCE/COPRI 77-22, Dry Dock Standard.
Documentation is the main ingredient when working through compliance issues. The major documentation components for STD SPEC 8634 compliance are dry dock inspection and certification, vessel safety including ship/dock stability and block load calculations, docking procedures and manning requirements. The Specification provides appendixes with detailed requirements for Calculations, Inspection Checklists for Certification, Requirements for Docking and Lifting Cradles, Conference and Inspection Checklists for Pre-docking, Docking, and Undocking. These checklists provide shipyards and operators with a pre-written comprehensive outline of typical drydocking events.
Dry docks are classed or certified by independent third parties which include NAVSEA (all types), OSHA (cranes only), IACS (steel floating dry docks only), and Professional Engineers (all types). Each of these parties compare the actual dock condition to the design condition to validate the capacity of the dry dock facility. A qualified Professional Engineer is the only third-party that is designated as qualified personnel to determine the actual capacity of the dry dock.
The dry dock inspection requirements for certification by a Professional Engineer are detailed in the specification and checklists are provided. The comprehensive checklists provide engineers with a peer-reviewed government document which is useful as the checklists can be utilized as a valid basis for any dry dock inspection.
The comprehensive dry dock calculations are for safety of the vessel in dock only. The Specification provides detailed instructions for calculating the trapezoid load for keel blocks, hurricane and seismic overturning for side blocks, knuckle reactions, the 1/3rd rule for side block design, and pumping plans for floating dry docks. Ship/dock stability is also covered with detailed instructions for determining the draft at GM=0. Detailed requirements for block construction are also provided.
Docking procedures are required to be documented. Each aspect of the drydocking evolution should be considered including contingencies. This includes operating procedures, manning procedures, safety and security requirements, and operating limitations of the facility. Much of this is covered in detail in the checklists provided in the Specification.
Manning requirements are given for the Dockmaster and other personnel. The Dockmasters requirements are given explicitly, and documented experience is required. Dry Dock and vessel stations and functions should be included with the dry dock operating procedures and each station identified should include a qualified manning assignment.
Greg Howe has over 50 years in the Maritime Industry, 14 of those years spent in the Offshore Salvage Industry, and 22 years in Dry Dock and Shiplift operations from the Caribbean to Alaska. Greg has worked in some of the world’s most remote locations, and the extreme climactic conditions have given him the opportunity to advance his unique skills in drydocking damaged vessels as well as maximizing lift loading.
In remote locations with short service seasons, Greg has been an advocate for Shipyard Maintenance and Facility Planning by continuing to stress the importance of Preventative Maintenance programs, ergonomics in Shipyard design, and the development and training of Drydocking teams. Since 2019, Greg has operated as a consultant for the Drydock and Shiplift Industry.
His commitment to excellence and continuous improvement in the maritime sector has established him as a respected figure in maritime operations, greatly influencing industry standards and practices.
So, this one time, I was on a dry dock...
Undocking a very large ship from a floating dry dock. The harbor pilot positioned one tug at the bow with a tow line and positioned two other tugs at the head of the port and starboard wing walls of the dock to provide touch and go assistance. For reasons unknown, the pilot then instructed the forward tug to go full ahead without any line handling from the dock. This instruction was not coordinated with the entire dock crew on the dock nor the ship. The ship had been secured and centered using four 3⁄4” wire ropes from winches located at each of the four corners of the floating dry dock. The ship’s crew realized too late that the starboard aft line was still wrapped around a ship’s bitt. With the ship already in motion the ship’s crew could not get any slack to unwrap it from the bitt and the line began to pull out of the docks starboard aft winch until the winches braking clutch locked and suddenly no more line paid out. This immediately caused the ship to yaw while still inside the dock and without any other lines the pilot had no control of the ship. The tugs outside the dock were ineffective and as the ship contacted the wingwall fender the ship’s forward motion began to strain the wire to its breaking point. For the uninitiated, if a wire rope under strain begins to produce an eerie sound or “sing”, this is the song of the Sirens from the tale of Ulysses, and it is the song of death. Every man on the starboard side of the ship and dock ran or dove for cover. And just in time. The wire rope parted at the wrap around the ships bitt with an explosion and the recoil of the wire was ferocious. As it came towards the docks control room it sliced the top of the adjacent companionway off before slamming into the side of the control room. It broke almost all the windows, sliced through a corner support and damaged the exterior of the control room. It also destroyed the winch, and the winch foundation was permanently deformed. And somehow no one was injured or killed.
Next edition:
✅ What is “Department of Defense (DoD) Standard Practice, MIL-STD-1625D, Safety Certification Program for Drydocking Facilities and Shipbuilding Ways for US Navy Ships”?
✅ Do you have questions or comments?
✅ Do you have a success story you’d like to share?
✅ Do you have lessons learned from a dry dock incident you’d like to share?
✅ Would you like to advertise in future publications?
📩 Please email wally@tritondrydock.com
Disclosure: Waleed Sayed, P.E. is a co-author of “ASCE Manuals and Reports on Engineering Practice No. 121, Safe Operation and Maintenance of Dry Dock Facilities” and a co-author and voting member of “ASCE/COPRI Standard 77-22, Dry Dock Standard”. Mr. Sayed is not compensated for presenting any information related to these publications. This publication was developed and produced without any assistance from Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Disclaimer: The information provided in this publication is general in nature and not prescriptive to any specific dry dock facility. Always consult a qualified professional when developing any site-specific plan.
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