Extended Dry Dockings
The potential for greater flexibility
Lloyd’s Register has been exploring the potential for greater flexibility which may be achieved by extending the
five-yearly docking survey cycle to 7.5 years.
For five years, we have been carrying out a pilot scheme for Extended Dry Dockings with a major containership operator. Under the scheme, certain dry dockings are replaced by in-water surveys (IWS) carried out by approved diving companies.
The procedures agreed with the operator and with the Danish Maritime Authority, as well as other flags, have been carefully thought through and are in no way a reduction of the controls provided by the special survey regime. The scheme is predicated on a number of factors to secure class and flag state approval. Safety is always the paramount concern. To date, the combination of our procedures, the involvement of a first-class operator and experienced flag states, is providing appropriate oversight with respect to safety.