Definition

1. Verb:
   • To maneuver (a ship) into a drydock: The action of moving a ship into a special basin or dock from which the water can be pumped out, allowing the hull to be exposed for inspection, maintenance, or repair.

Usage

• The verb "dry-dock" specifically describes the process of placing a vessel into a dry dock facility. It is a transitive verb, requiring a direct object (the ship).
• It is often used in the passive voice to describe the state of a ship being out of the water for service.
• Example: "The captain ordered the crew to the freighter for its annual overhaul."
• Example (Passive): "The historic sailing ship for extensive restoration work."

Examples

• Verb:
  • The naval engineers needed to dry-dock the submarine to repair its propeller.
  • After the collision, the damaged tanker had to be dry-docked immediately.
  • The company plans to dry-dock its entire fleet for mandatory safety inspections.

Advanced Usage

• "to be in dry dock": This is a common phrase describing the state of a ship that has been dry-docked and is undergoing work.
  • The cruise liner will be in dry dock for three weeks while they refurbish the cabins.
• The term can be used figuratively to describe taking any complex piece of machinery or even a project out of active service for major work.
  • We need to dry-dock the marketing campaign and rethink our core message.

Variants and Related Words

• Dry dock (noun): The facility itself; a structure that can be flooded to allow a ship to enter and then drained to leave the ship supported on blocks.
  • The ship entered the dry dock for repairs.
• Drydocked (adjective/participle): Describing the state of having been placed in a dry dock.
  • The drydocked vessel was surrounded by scaffolding.

Synonyms

• Berth (in a dry dock): To bring a ship into a dock.
• Put in dock: A more general phrase for placing a ship in any dock, including a dry dock.

Related Phrases

• Take out of the water: A more general, descriptive phrase for the same action.
  • They had to take the old yacht out of the water to fix the hull.
• Lay up: To take a ship out of active service, which often involves dry-docking it.
  • The owner decided to lay up the ship in dry dock for the winter.

Verb

1. maneuver (a ship) into a drydock