My dry dock experience was indeed amazing.

     The term dry dock means a dock which can be drained of water to allow inspection and repairs of a ships hull and machineries. It was a great opportunity  for any young navigator or seaman to gain more knowledge that you may not learn while the vessel is at sea. Although it was a challenging and tiring job but it is worth the sweat. 

Before the ship went to a dry dock, the ship must undergo a tough preparation specially on a liquified natural gas carrier which is more complicated than any normal vessel. The most complicated is the cargo hold preparation. As we are carrying a liquified gas, the hold must be free of any flammable gases before entering the dock. 

This preparation includes maximum discharge, stripping, warming up, inerting, aerating and drying up. 

Once the ship arrives in the dry dock, repairs will start. All stated in the dry dock specs agreed by the shore and the company will start the process. Our job is to make sure that all the specs assigned to us will be done and finish at the right time correctly. 

Repairs may include maintainance on the propeller and the hull.

Including anchor chain inspection and painting. This is done by shore personnel approved by the classification society. 

One of the most important repair on a liquified gas carrier is the cargo holds repair which is made of corrugated cryogenic material. This hold is design to withstand a very low temperature of LNG. 

They say, you can only rest when the vessel is out of the dock and seaworthy. Although it is true but once you came out from the dock and sail out, you can feel that it is worth the sweat.

Bon voyage..