Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Master Mariner • Weather Routing • Draft Survey

Drydocking

Term from Ship Captain Roles industry explained for recruiters

Drydocking is a crucial maintenance process where ships are taken out of water 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 mechanics can work on the entire vehicle, including the parts that are usually underwater. Ships need regular drydocking to stay safe and meet international safety rules, usually every 2-5 years depending on the type of ship. This process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, and it's a major responsibility for ship captains and marine engineers to manage these operations.

Examples in Resumes

Successfully managed Drydocking projects for 5 cargo vessels, completing all within schedule and budget

Supervised Drydock maintenance operations for a fleet of 3 container ships

Led Dry-dock inspection and repair procedures for passenger vessels in compliance with maritime regulations

Typical job title: "Ship Captains"

Also try searching for:

Marine Superintendent Technical Superintendent Ship Manager Vessel Manager Port Engineer Marine Engineer Ship Captain Drydock Manager

Where to Find Ship Captains

Maritime Professional Networks

Industry Organizations

Job Boards

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you plan and manage a major drydocking project?

Expected Answer: A senior candidate should explain the process of creating budgets, scheduling repairs, coordinating with shipyards, managing contractors, and ensuring compliance with regulations. They should mention experience with cost control and problem-solving during unexpected issues.

Q: What strategies do you use to minimize drydocking time while ensuring quality?

Expected Answer: The answer should cover pre-planning, having materials ready beforehand, proper coordination with contractors, parallel work scheduling, and quality control measures. They should emphasize the balance between speed and safety.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What are the main inspections required during drydocking?

Expected Answer: Candidate should mention hull inspection, propeller checking, valve maintenance, painting, and other common maintenance tasks. They should understand basic regulatory requirements.

Q: How do you prepare a vessel for drydocking?

Expected Answer: Should describe the process of creating repair lists, emptying tanks, securing equipment, and coordinating with shipyard. Should mention safety procedures and documentation requirements.

Junior Level Questions

Q: Why is drydocking necessary for ships?

Expected Answer: Should explain basic concept of regular maintenance, hull cleaning, painting, and regulatory requirements. Should understand the importance for ship safety.

Q: What safety measures are important during drydocking?

Expected Answer: Should mention basic safety procedures like proper access arrangements, fire safety, working at height precautions, and general shipyard safety rules.