Thematic module · tenth module developed

# Dry Dock Live

Dry dock entry planning, bottom/in-water survey, survey in dry dock, coating/PSPC, thickness measurement, tail shaft, rudder and sea chests, Anchor and Chain Cable Survey, Cargo Hold Survey for bulk carriers, shipyard waste management, Shipyard Repair Contracts, Post-Repair Warranty Management, Dry Dock Scheduling for Sister Ships, Hong Kong Convention and Green Passport, Next-Generation Coating, Hot Work Permit at the Shipyard, Remote Inspection Techniques (RIT).

Each topic below brings together, in a single place: an operational explanation, the regulatory reference, scope of application, procedure, practical example, real cases, common mistakes, PSC observations, operational tips, a checklist and FAQ — regulations verified as of July 2026.

### Dry Dock Entry Planning

A poorly planned dry dock entry costs far more in ship downtime than it would have cost in preparation: the repair specification and shipyard coordination start months in advance, not at departure.

### Bottom Survey and In-Water Survey (IWS)

SOLAS requires two bottom inspections every 5 years, with a maximum of 36 months between them: the In-Water Survey can replace a dry dock entry, but only under certain conditions.

### Survey in Dry Dock

The moment when Class, flag and shipyard converge on the same ship: how to organize mandatory surveys without letting them become the bottleneck of the entire stoppage.

### Coating and PSPC (Performance Standard for Protective Coatings)

Corrosion is not a cosmetic problem: the PSPC standard exists to ensure that ballast tank coating truly lasts the intended 15 years, not just on the certificate paper.

### Thickness Measurement (Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement, UTM)

The number that decides whether a plate stays in service or must be replaced: how a thickness measurement campaign is planned and why areas of substantial corrosion require an extension of the measurement.

### Tail Shaft Survey

The five-year cycle of the tail shaft hides an important technical choice: traditional survey with withdrawal, or Continuous Machinery Survey to spread the inspection over time?

### Rudder and Sea Chests (Sea Chests and Sea Valves)

Two different systems, one single opportunity to inspect them thoroughly: rudder pintle clearance and sea valve tightness remain among the costliest items to postpone to the next dry dock.

### Anchor and Chain Cable Survey

Every anchor chain is ranged and measured link by link: an 11% diameter wear on a single length is enough to require its full renewal.

### Cargo Hold Survey for Bulk Carriers (ESP)

Since 2025 drone inspections are formally recognized for close-up surveys: a significant practical change for the bulk carrier Enhanced Survey Programme.

### Shipyard Waste Management during Dry Dock

Hull blasting generates a specific hazardous waste: anti-fouling paint residue that, if poorly managed, simply shifts pollution from the sea to the shipyard.

### Managing Shipyard Repair Contracts

A generic repair specification and a rushed contract negotiation are among the most common causes of cost and time overruns in dry dock: contract planning should start 6-9 months before entry, not a few weeks.

### Managing Post-Repair Warranties (Warranty Claims)

A defect discovered three months after leaving dry dock is not automatically the shipyard's problem by definition: it only becomes one if notification and documentation follow the contractual warranty procedure.

### Dry Dock Scheduling for Sister Ships (Sister Ship Scheduling)

When a series of sister ships enters dry dock months apart from one another, each subsequent entry can benefit from lessons learned from the previous one, if the information is systematically collected and reused.

### Hong Kong Convention: Inventory of Hazardous Materials and Green Passport

In force since 26 June 2025, the Hong Kong Convention turns the Inventory of Hazardous Materials into a living document to be maintained for the ship's entire life, not just a formality of the final voyage to recycling.

### Next-Generation Coating: Planning the Dry Dock Choice

A biocide-free coating with a lifecycle of up to 10 years changes the economic calculation for the next dry dock entry: the choice of antifouling system is no longer just an environmental question, but a maintenance cycle planning one.

### Hot Work Permit at the Shipyard: Ship-Dock Coordination

In dry dock the hot work permit is no longer just an onboard procedure: it overlaps with the shipyard's own permit system, and the two parties don't always share the same level of rigour.

### Remote Inspection Techniques (RIT): Drone and ROV Inspections

Not just bulk carrier close-up surveys: remote inspection techniques using drones and ROVs are expanding into a broader survey ecosystem, with dedicated centres and formally approved service providers.

Coming in future updates to this module: expansion of certified RIT surveyor networks and first widespread experience applying the technique beyond bulk carrier close-up surveys, evolution of industry standards on biocide-free coatings after the first generation of multi-year applications, update of the IMCA shipyard safety guidelines following their 2025 publication.

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