floating dry dock
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A floating dry dock is a type of dry dock that is not fixed to land. It is a buoyant structure that can be submerged by filling ballast tanks with water. Once submerged, a vessel can be floated into position above it. The dock is then raised by pumping the water out, lifting the vessel completely out of the water for inspection, maintenance, or repair.
Usage
A floating dry dock is used in shipyards and harbors. It provides a mobile and sometimes more flexible alternative to a traditional graving dock (a basin dug into the shore). It is particularly useful where water depth or space is limited, or when the dock needs to be relocated.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- The term can be part of technical discussions in marine engineering, naval architecture, and port operations.
- It is often contrasted with a graving dock (a permanent, land-based dry dock) and a synchrolift (a platform lift system).
Variants and Related Words
- Floating dock: A broader term that can refer to any buoyant docking structure, not necessarily one used to lift vessels completely out of the water.
- Dry dock: The general category of facilities used to lift vessels out of the water. A floating dry dock is one specific type.
- Pontoon dock: A similar structure, often used as a synonym in some contexts.
Synonyms
- Submersible dry dock
- Floating repair dock
Related Phrases
- To dock in a floating dry dock: The action of placing a vessel into this facility.
- The tanker will dock in the floating dry dock tomorrow for its annual survey.
- To raise/lower the dock: Describes the operation of the floating dry dock itself.
- The engineers lowered the floating dry dock to allow the yacht to enter.
Noun
- dry dock that can be submerged under a vessel and then raised