Meanwhile, on the Oasis of the Seas…. Photos in dry-dock.

[KuffMUp]

Anyone know the purpose of the cable running from the aft of the ship (just above the waterline) that runs to some location off the picture to the right?

 

Maybe a giant electrical plug??

[Kamloops50]

The keel blocks are prepositioned according to the "docking plan" of the ship. The blocks are typically made of concrete and are thus on the order of several thousand pounds each. The blocks would be placed using the cranes and when the ship comes into the drydock she is precisely placed in the dock using GPS or some other way.

 

They also put about 6 to 12 inches of wood on the blocks as well. This is to even out any imperfections off the hull when it is resting on the concrete.

[chengkp75]

They also put about 6 to 12 inches of wood on the blocks as well. This is to even out any imperfections off the hull when it is resting on the concrete.

 

Actually, while the wood will compensate for variations of the hull, it is placed and then aligned by laser level to be perfectly true. The wood is there to provide "crush" to cushion the ship's structure from the point load of the block. Generally there is 6" or so of hardwood, and then a soft pine cap to the block. The hardwood is permanent to the block, the pine capping is renewed for each ship.

[Clarea]

Actually, while the wood will compensate for variations of the hull, it is placed and then aligned by laser level to be perfectly true. The wood is there to provide "crush" to cushion the ship's structure from the point load of the block. Generally there is 6" or so of hardwood, and then a soft pine cap to the block. The hardwood is permanent to the block, the pine capping is renewed for each ship.

Can you recall any dry docks where the blocks were not aligned properly and there was hull damage?

[CRUISEFAN0001]

Actually, while the wood will compensate for variations of the hull, it is placed and then aligned by laser level to be perfectly true. The wood is there to provide "crush" to cushion the ship's structure from the point load of the block. Generally there is 6" or so of hardwood, and then a soft pine cap to the block. The hardwood is permanent to the block, the pine capping is renewed for each ship.

WOW - this is truly fascinating.

 

The idea that putting a 220+ ton ship on "blocks" similar to a car getting a new engine is remarkable. Granted...the scale and dynamics are different, but the concept is very similar.

 

The hull sandblast and repaint is particularly interesting. Obviously several years of corrosion in saltwater takes it's toll, so a repaint is needed.

 

Those bow thruster blades and azipods also get plenty of "wear and tear".

 

The whole dry doc process is especially "special" when we laypeople/cruisers get the chance to see the activities in photos and video.

 

We are grateful to be able to see these amazing things, as well as enjoy your detailed information on the specific things happening in dry dock.

Edited October 7, 2014 by CRUISEFAN0001

[buckeye rob]

Okay, dumb question.....but.....do they refloat the ship and again dewater to reach the inacessable parts of the hull originally sitting on the blocks, cribbing ? Gerry

[Clarea]

Okay, dumb question.....but.....do they refloat the ship and again dewater to reach the inacessable parts of the hull originally sitting on the blocks, cribbing ? Gerry

I believe it was mentioned earlier that the inaccesible parts of the hull are painted the next dry dock.

[mbotos]

In this quadcopter video you can see the Oasis in her drydock bay and observe that about one half of the port side below the water line has already been repainted.

 

 

Michael....

[buckeye rob]

I believe it was mentioned earlier that the inaccesible parts of the hull are painted the next dry dock.

Thanks, didn't go through all of the posts. So about 10 years possible for a section to be exposed ? I'm sure they see that as not that big an issue. Thanks again. Gerry P.S. by the way... anyone hear anything on the supposed press release and or new deck drawings supposed to be released today ?

Edited October 7, 2014 by buckeye rob

[Clarea]

In this quadcopter video you can see the Oasis in her drydock bay and observe that about one half of the port side below the water line has already been repainted.

 

 

Michael....

Very cool video.:)

[kirian]

Hope you noticed that the anchors weigh 9000 tons. Oh, well, it's PR. :o

 

LOL! I actually did pick up on that and just decided he must have meant 9000 pounds (because surely the anchor doesn't weigh 1/10th of the weight of the entire ship) :D

[tahqa]

The idea that putting a 220+ ton ship on "blocks" similar to a car getting a new engine is remarkable. Granted...the scale and dynamics are different, but the concept is very similar.

 

Deadweight Tonnage (not to be confused with GRT) is something on the order of 90,000 to 100,000 tons. Approximately the same as a Nimitz or Ford class aircraft carrier.

[cruiserdudebobby8]

any news about what being done in the promenade

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[chengkp75]

Can you recall any dry docks where the blocks were not aligned properly and there was hull damage?

 

Oh, yeah. No permanent damage, but it did bend the ship while on the blocks (this was in a floating dock, where it is more common) and that caused some problems when withdrawing the propeller shafts, as things didn't line up properly.

 

Also had to have some blocks cut out of the way (they chop the wood away with a chain saw and then lift the block) because it was covering a depth sounder transponder or a sea chest.

Edited October 7, 2014 by chengkp75

[chengkp75]

I believe it was mentioned earlier that the inaccesible parts of the hull are painted the next dry dock.

 

Yes, there are two blocking plans so that the areas covered by the blocks are exposed at the next docking.

[Clarea]

Oh, yeah. No permanent damage, but it did bend the ship while on the blocks (this was in a floating dock, where it is more common) and that caused some problems when withdrawing the propeller shafts, as things didn't line up properly.

 

Also had to have some blocks cut out of the way (they chop the wood away with a chain saw and then lift the block) because it was covering a depth sounder transponder or a sea chest.

Is it possible for a crewmember to get to the the inside surface of the outer hull? Just wondering if they found a puncture, could they fix it from the inside, or would they have to dry dock again with the blocks in a different place.

[Yorkvillain]

In this quadcopter video you can see the Oasis in her drydock bay and observe that about one half of the port side below the water line has already been repainted.

 

 

Michael....

 

Very cool.

[chengkp75]

Deadweight Tonnage (not to be confused with GRT) is something on the order of 90,000 to 100,000 tons. Approximately the same as a Nimitz or Ford class aircraft carrier.

 

GRT is no longer used. Gross Tonnage (GT) replaced the term GRT back in the 80's.

 

Deadweight tonnage is the amount of cargo and fuel that a ship can lift. The deadweight tonnage of Oasis is about 15,000 tons (fuel, oil, water, food, booze, and people).

 

What you are describing is displacement (generally a naval term) or lightship tonnage. The difference between displacement and lightship is that displacement considers fuel and water to be onboard at normal conditions, while lightship is just the weight of the ship with no liquids onboard.

[tahqa]

GRT is no longer used. Gross Tonnage (GT) replaced the term GRT back in the 80's.

 

Deadweight tonnage is the amount of cargo and fuel that a ship can lift. The deadweight tonnage of Oasis is about 15,000 tons (fuel, oil, water, food, booze, and people).

 

What you are describing is displacement (generally a naval term) or lightship tonnage. The difference between displacement and lightship is that displacement considers fuel and water to be onboard at normal conditions, while lightship is just the weight of the ship with no liquids onboard.

 

Sorry for mangling my terms. :o

[chengkp75]

Is it possible for a crewmember to get to the the inside surface of the outer hull? Just wondering if they found a puncture, could they fix it from the inside, or would they have to dry dock again with the blocks in a different place.

 

Yes and no. The flat bottom of a ship is referred to as the "double bottom" and the engine room bilges tend to be the "inner bottom" or top of the double bottom tanks. These tanks are ballast, fuel, oil, or bilge water tanks. They may or may not be full when drydocking. If a ballast tank needs work, it can be emptied, but must be refilled before the ship is floated, as you always need to have the ship's load as close as possible on refloat as when docked, or the ship's stability will have changed, and ugly things can happen (listing over and driving a propeller into the bottom of the dock, for instance). Ships will plan their fuel bunkering for a drydock to allow the ship to enter dock with the minimum amount of fuel. This allows better clearance over the blocks when entering drydock, and allows for more tanks to be inspected. All tanks must be inspected internally every 5 years. If a fuel or oil tank needs work, then it must not only be emptied, but must be "gas freed" (all hydrocarbon vapors removed) and adjacent fuel tanks inerted (the atmosphere on top of the oil replaced with nitrogen, which won't sustain combustion.

 

All ship's tanks have "docking plugs", which are 2" diameter screwed in drain plugs so that you can drain the tank completely for inspection in drydock. It is a major checklist item to have one person responsible for keeping the plugs removed, knowing which have been removed, and ensuring that they are all replaced before the dock is flooded. Again, ugly things can happen.

 

Generally, if you have a puncture in the hull, you've known about it for a while, and have done temporary repairs from the inside until drydock. What is more common is when the ship first goes dry, the Chief Engineer will tour the dock with the shipyard and the line's Superintendent (the Chief's boss ashore), and you will almost always find a dent somewhere. The class surveyor will determine if the dent needs repairing or whether it can just be ignored as cosmetic.

[chengkp75]

Sorry for mangling my terms. :o

 

No problem, half the time I forget which is which.

[Clarea]

Yes and no. The flat bottom of a ship is referred to as the "double bottom" and the engine room bilges tend to be the "inner bottom" or top of the double bottom tanks. These tanks are ballast, fuel, oil, or bilge water tanks. They may or may not be full when drydocking. If a ballast tank needs work, it can be emptied, but must be refilled before the ship is floated, as you always need to have the ship's load as close as possible on refloat as when docked, or the ship's stability will have changed, and ugly things can happen (listing over and driving a propeller into the bottom of the dock, for instance). Ships will plan their fuel bunkering for a drydock to allow the ship to enter dock with the minimum amount of fuel. This allows better clearance over the blocks when entering drydock, and allows for more tanks to be inspected. All tanks must be inspected internally every 5 years. If a fuel or oil tank needs work, then it must not only be emptied, but must be "gas freed" (all hydrocarbon vapors removed) and adjacent fuel tanks inerted (the atmosphere on top of the oil replaced with nitrogen, which won't sustain combustion.

 

All ship's tanks have "docking plugs", which are 2" diameter screwed in drain plugs so that you can drain the tank completely for inspection in drydock. It is a major checklist item to have one person responsible for keeping the plugs removed, knowing which have been removed, and ensuring that they are all replaced before the dock is flooded. Again, ugly things can happen.

 

Generally, if you have a puncture in the hull, you've known about it for a while, and have done temporary repairs from the inside until drydock. What is more common is when the ship first goes dry, the Chief Engineer will tour the dock with the shipyard and the line's Superintendent (the Chief's boss ashore), and you will almost always find a dent somewhere. The class surveyor will determine if the dent needs repairing or whether it can just be ignored as cosmetic.

Thanks for the detailed explanation, really enjoy learning about some of the technical stuff.:)

[chengkp75]

Thanks for the detailed explanation, really enjoy learning about some of the technical stuff.:)

 

No problem. Shipyard periods are the most enjoyable times for me, because of the logistics and planning involved. I do tend to have a pretty hunted look, have dropped 10 lbs, and twitch when my name is called by the time its ready to float the ship again. :eek:

[Yorkvillain]

Wow, I have to bookmark this thread. So much great info.

[Clarea]

No problem. Shipyard periods are the most enjoyable times for me, because of the logistics and planning involved. I do tend to have a pretty hunted look, have dropped 10 lbs, and twitch when my name is called by the time its ready to float the ship again. :eek:

I cannot even begin to imagine the stress someone must be under to have responsiblity for $1.2B (Oasis in dry dock) worth of capital equipment.