Dry docking FAQs

Most vessels follow a five-year dry docking cycle aligned with class requirements. Some operators also carry out intermediate docking work or in-water surveys depending on vessel type, operating profile, and inspection regime.

In-water work is carried out while the vessel remains afloat and is suitable for limited maintenance tasks. Dry docking lifts the vessel clear of the water, allowing full access to the hull, underwater fittings, structural steelwork, and major inspections.

A dry dock can take anywhere from several days to several weeks depending on the work scope, contractor availability, survey scheduling, and what is discovered once inspections begin. Structural repairs and coating work are among the most common causes of programme extensions.

Dry docking commonly includes hull inspection and coating, steel repairs, sea chest cleaning, thruster work, shaft and propeller inspections, cooler maintenance, and planned machinery overhauls. It is also one of the main opportunities for statutory servicing, class surveys, and safety equipment inspections.

Ideally, planning should begin several months in advance, particularly where yard availability, contractor schedules, and class survey windows need to align. Early planning also gives technical teams more time to define the scope properly, secure long-lead spares, and avoid last-minute budget or scheduling issues.

‘Scope creep’ is a notorious pitfall of dry docking.

Some defects only become visible once coatings are removed, tanks are opened, and inspections begin. Corrosion, hidden steel wastage, access limitations, and additional survey findings can all increase the work scope after arrival in dock. Detailed pre-dock inspections help reduce surprises, but some expansion is still common across the industry.

Delays are often linked to incomplete scope definition, contractor clashes, steel work expansion, late spare parts, survey bottlenecks, and approval delays during the docking itself. In many cases, the problems begin before the vessel even arrives at the yard.

Good survey preparation is largely about access, sequencing, and documentation. Technical teams should ensure required openings, isolations, permits, scaffolding, service records, certificates, and test equipment are all ready before attendance begins. Missing preparation can delay surveys and disrupt the wider docking programme.

Thorough pre-dock surveys, realistic budgeting, early contractor coordination, and clear worklists all help reduce scope creep. It is difficult to eliminate entirely, particularly on older vessels, but strong planning and sensible contingency allowances make dockings far more predictable.

Multiple contractors often need access to the same spaces within tight timeframes. Without clear sequencing and communication, delays quickly spread across coatings, inspections, testing, and commissioning activities. Good coordination keeps the critical path moving.

In some cases, yes. Remote or hybrid surveys may reduce attendance requirements for non-critical items, but major structural, underwater, and statutory work still requires physical inspection during dry docking.

Definitely. Docking usually provides much better access to firefighting systems, LSA, davits, refrigeration systems, fuel tanks, and water systems than would normally be possible while the vessel is in service. Many operators use this opportunity to consolidate multiple workstreams into the same maintenance window.

Dry docking provides a clean starting point for a structured service agreement. Surveys are up to date, equipment baselines are clear, and certification cycles align. Technical teams often move to an agreement at this stage because it simplifies budgeting, reduces administrative load, and stabilises maintenance planning.

Fixed pricing helps chiefs and superintendents predict costs over the next cycle. Fewer purchase orders and consolidated invoicing cut down on paperwork. Consolidated attendance reduces travel, supports environmental goals, and minimises disruption on board.

The same technicians attend repeatedly, improving vessel familiarity and reducing downtime.For many operators, a well-planned dry dock paired with a structured agreement sets the next service cycle on solid ground.