Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Life Saving Equipment • Outfitting • Propulsion Systems

Dry Docking

Term from Shipbuilding industry explained for recruiters

Dry docking is a crucial maintenance process where ships are moved into a special facility called a dry dock for inspection, repairs, and maintenance. Think of it like taking a car to a giant garage where all the water is removed so workers can access the entire hull (bottom and sides) of the ship. This process is essential in shipbuilding and ship maintenance, as it's the only way to work on parts of the ship that are normally underwater. It's similar to lifting a car on a mechanic's hydraulic lift, but on a much larger scale. The term appears frequently in maritime job descriptions because it's a fundamental process that every ship must undergo periodically for safety and regulatory requirements.

Examples in Resumes

Supervised Dry Docking operations for fleet of 5 cargo vessels

Managed Dry-Dock maintenance projects with budgets exceeding $2M

Led team of 25 workers during Dry Dock repairs and inspections

Coordinated Drydocking schedules and contractor activities

Typical job title: "Dry Dock Managers"

Also try searching for:

Ship Repair Manager Dry Dock Superintendent Marine Engineering Manager Vessel Maintenance Supervisor Ship Repair Supervisor Marine Operations Manager Shipyard Manager

Where to Find Dry Dock Managers

Professional Organizations

Industry Networks

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you manage a dry dock project that's behind schedule?

Expected Answer: Look for answers that demonstrate experience in project management, ability to prioritize critical tasks, coordinate multiple teams, and potentially accelerate work safely through additional resources or shift adjustments.

Q: How do you handle budget overruns during a dry docking operation?

Expected Answer: Candidate should discuss cost control measures, negotiation with contractors, prioritizing essential work, and communication with stakeholders about additional funding needs.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What are the key safety considerations during dry docking?

Expected Answer: Should mention proper blocking and support of the vessel, fire safety, confined space entry procedures, and coordination of multiple work activities.

Q: Describe the basic steps of a dry docking operation.

Expected Answer: Should explain preparation work, floating the ship in, blocking and securing, water removal, inspection processes, and basic scheduling of work activities.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What basic inspections are performed during dry docking?

Expected Answer: Should mention hull cleaning and inspection, propeller examination, paint condition assessment, and basic underwater equipment checks.

Q: Why is dry docking necessary for ships?

Expected Answer: Should explain basic maintenance requirements, regulatory inspections, and the need to access underwater parts of the ship for repairs and maintenance.