Boating enthusiasts and mariners are familiar with the terms “shipboard” and “dry dock.” While these terms are commonly used, many people are not aware of their meanings. Shipboard and dry dock are two concepts that have a lot to do with how boats or ships are maintained.
Shipboard refers to any work or activity that is done on board a ship. This includes everything from routine maintenance and repair to upgrading or modifying certain parts of the ship. In short, shipboard work is any operation that takes place when the ship is at sea or in a port.
Shipboard work is an integral part of keeping a ship in good working condition. It involves maintenance of the engine, hull, and other critical systems of the ship. Engineers and sailors typically carry out shipboard work using specialized tools and techniques. The goal of shipboard work is to ensure that the ship is seaworthy, reliable, and safe.
On the other hand, when a boat or ship requires comprehensive repair or overhaul, it is usually placed in dry dock. A dry dock is an artificial basin or dock that is isolated from the sea by a barrier, such as a floodgate. It is typically used to carry out major repairs or maintenance operations that cannot be performed efficiently while the vessel is in the water.
Dry docking a vessel involves draining the water around it so that it remains stationary. Once the vessel is in place, experts can easily inspect and repair the entire hull, as well as other systems such as the propulsion, steering, and electrical systems. They may paint the hull, replace the propeller, engine, shaft, or rudder or install new equipment or instruments. Once the repairs are completed, the vessel is floated off the dry dock, and normal operations resume.
Shipboard and dry dock are two concepts that every mariner needs to be familiar with. While shipboard refers to routine maintenance and repair work done while the ship is in operation, dry dock is used to carry out major repairs and overhaul of a ship or boat. Both of these concepts play a critical role in ensuring that boats and ships remain seaworthy, reliable, and safe for use.