25 Important Points to Consider While Securing the Engine Room for Dry Docking

Once the vessel enters the dry dock for hull inspection, it is important that the ship’s engineer secure the ship’s propulsion plant and the engine room in the correct sequence to prevent any kind of damage or problem while restarting the plant once the dry-docking of the vessel is finished.

Following points must be considered once the ship enters the dry dock and before emptying the water from the dock to rest the ship on the keel blocks:

1. Ensure all the tanks in the engine room are at required level as demanded by the chief officer to achieve required trim for docking.

Related reading :

Maintenance of small tanks in the ship’s engine room ,

List of some important tanks on ship,

List of fuel, diesel, and lube oil tanks on ships.

2. Shut down all the auxiliary engines except one for providing the required power

Related Reading:

– Procedure for starting and stopping generators,

Important signs indicating auxiliary engine needs overhauling,

A step-by-step guide to overhauling generators on ships.

overhauling ebook

3. Isolate the sequential start system for generators

Related Reading:

How to synchronize generators on ships?,

Important points to consider while carrying out alternator maintenance of ship’s generator,

Important points for major overhauling of ship’s generator

4. Shut steam to jacket cooling water system

drydock

Related Reading:

General Overview of Central Cooling System of Ships

5. Keep the jacket cooling water pump running  until the main engine is gradually cooled down

6. Transfer the main engine lube oil in the sump to lube oil settling tank by using a purifier

engine

Related Reading:

Ways to optimize lube oil usage on ships

7. Ensure all auxiliary engines are shut down except one diesel engine supplying enough power

machinery ebook

8. Before shutting down all the auxiliary engines, ensure they are changed over to diesel oil

Related Reading:

Fuel oil change over procedure

9. The main engine should be changed over to diesel oil prior to one hour of docking. If not, change over to diesel oil with fuel oil service tank return valve open until the line has been flushed with diesel oil

10. Shut down lube oil and fuel oil purifiers

11. Shut down deck machinery system and isolate it from the main switchboard

dry dock deck ebook

Related Reading:

Safety Devices for Main Switch Board 

12. Shut down and isolate the auxiliary boiler. Allow it to cool naturally and once the pressure is below 1 bar, open the vent

Related Reading:

Shutdown procedure of boiler

boiler ebook

13. Once the boiler is shut down, stop and isolate the feed water system and distillate tank

14. Circulate diesel oil in the boiler fuel pipeline system before shutting down the fuel oil pumps

15. Shut down the stern tube lube oil system and if required, drain the lube oil system back to stern tube storage tank

16. Shut down the accommodation air conditioning system and refrigeration plant until the shore supply is connected to the ship

Related Reading:

8 Common Problems Found in Ship’s Refrigeration System

design and refrigeration ebook

17. Shut the steam to the calorifier and switch on the electrical heating system

18. Ask shore in-charge for water connection required for running air conditioning and refrigeration system

19. Isolate ship’s fire pump and connect the shore fire connection to ship’s fire line

Related Reading:

What is international shore connection?

20. Check the frequency, voltage and phase sequence of the shore power

21. Isolate the emergency generator before connecting shore power

Related Reading:

Ways of Starting and Testing Emergency Generator 

22. Shut down the running generator leading to blackout for connecting shore power

23. Connect the shore power to emergency switchboard

Related Reading:

What is cold ironing?

24. Restart the jacket water pump for the generator until it is gradually cooled down to avoid thermal stresses. Once cooled, shut the pump

25. Secure the engine room fire fighting system including foam and CO2 fixed fire fighting system

Related Reading:

Mistakes not to make while handling CO2 Fire Fighting System

Inform the dry dock in charge that engine room is ready for docking and dock water can be emptied.

For the complete procedure of dry dock operations for Engine Room Department, check out our ebook:

dry dock ebook

Over to you..

Do you know any other important points that can be added to the article?

Let’s know in the comments below.

Do you have info to share with us ? Suggest a correction

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About Author

An ardent sailor and a techie, Anish Wankhede has voyaged on a number of ships as a marine engineer officer. He loves multitasking, networking, and troubleshooting. He is the one behind the unique creativity and aesthetics at Marine Insight.

5 Comments

  1. Hi sir good day.i want become marrian engineer.i had 32 months experence as a oiler.present I am on board.my cdc panama.after 4 months possible to give exam for 3rd eng?if possible where I can give exam?

  2. Hi Dear Anish,
    We really searched the internet to find photos of Poker Gauge, But were unsuccessful.do you have picture it? If you have photos, please send us.

    thanks,
    Faraz Mirzaei

  3. Keep minimum bunker on board
    Crankshaft defection before and aft docking for ME.
    fins in.
    Cooling water for fridges.

  4. Bring slow speed engine to number one cylinder top dead center to facilitate accurate poker gage reading

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