Dry Dock

ships · engineering · water

What it does. A dry dock removes water so ships can be repaired and built on dry land instead of floating. This lets workers access every part of the boat's bottom and sides.

Graving docks. Graving or basin docks are huge enclosed areas with gates that hold water inside. Workers flood the dock to float a ship in, then pump all the water out, leaving the ship resting on blocks.

Lifting docks. Floating dry docks and marine travel lifts are like giant cradles that can rise up out of the water, lifting entire ships into the air so repairs can happen underneath.

Marine railways. These docks use railroad-like tracks that go into the water, so a ship can be pulled out on a wheeled platform and moved to the repair area.

Why they matter. Without dry docks, it would be impossible to fix ship hulls, paint bottoms, or build new vessels, making them essential to fishing, shipping, and military operations worldwide.