Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Tonnage Calculation • Anchor Handling • Stability Analysis

Docking Plan

Term from Shipbuilding industry explained for recruiters

A Docking Plan is a detailed technical drawing or document that shows how a ship should be positioned and supported when it's taken out of water for repairs, maintenance, or inspection in a dry dock. Think of it like a detailed instruction manual that tells shipyard workers exactly where to place the supporting blocks under the ship to keep it stable and safe while it's out of water. This is crucial because improper support could damage the ship's hull or create unsafe working conditions. The plan includes important information like the ship's weight distribution, critical structural points, and specific requirements for different types of maintenance work.

Examples in Resumes

Created and reviewed Docking Plans for various vessel types including cargo ships and tankers

Supervised implementation of Docking Plans and Dry Dock procedures for major vessel repairs

Updated existing Docking Plans to accommodate structural modifications on passenger vessels

Typical job title: "Naval Architects"

Also try searching for:

Marine Engineer Ship Designer Docking Engineer Marine Draftsman Naval Architecture Engineer Ship Planning Engineer Marine Technical Superintendent

Where to Find Naval Architects

Professional Organizations

Job Boards

Industry Networks

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you handle a situation where a ship's actual weight distribution differs from the original docking plan?

Expected Answer: A senior professional should explain the process of reassessing the docking blocks arrangement, conducting new calculations, and making necessary adjustments while ensuring safety standards are maintained. They should mention the importance of communication with shipyard teams and documentation of changes.

Q: What factors do you consider when creating a docking plan for a vessel that has undergone major modifications?

Expected Answer: Should discuss gathering updated vessel information, reviewing modification documents, analyzing new weight distribution, considering structural changes, and ensuring the new plan accounts for all modifications while maintaining safety margins.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What are the key elements you include in a typical docking plan?

Expected Answer: Should mention vessel dimensions, weight distribution, keel block locations, side block positions, critical hull points, and maintenance access requirements. Should also discuss safety margins and standard documentation practices.

Q: How do you determine the appropriate spacing of support blocks in a docking plan?

Expected Answer: Should explain consideration of vessel weight, hull structure, load distribution, and shipyard capabilities. Should mention standard practices and safety factors in block spacing.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What basic information do you need to start creating a docking plan?

Expected Answer: Should list vessel specifications like length, beam, draft, displacement, and basic structural drawings. Should understand the importance of getting accurate information from ship documentation.

Q: Why is a docking plan important for ship maintenance?

Expected Answer: Should explain how the plan ensures vessel stability and safety during dry dock, prevents hull damage, and allows proper access for maintenance work. Basic understanding of dry dock operations should be demonstrated.