Galveston dock injury lawyers respond that three methods remain the most common. The dry-docking procedure can be very dangerous. Injuries and even death can result if the ship becomes unstable during the transfer from dry to water-borne states and overturns. The danger generally increases with the size of the ship involved in the procedure.

The most common means for dry-docking involve the following:

• A floating dry dock. A floating dry dock contains sealed “wing walls.” Workers position the ship in need of maintenance or repair between the sealed wing walls. Then workers pump the water out from the wing walls of the floating dry dock in order to raise the ship clear, away from the water line. After the ship has undergone the needed maintenance or repair, the water is pumped back into the area between the wing walls to bring the ship back into the water.
• A marine railway. Surprisingly similar in concept to engineering structures used by the Romans thousands of years ago, a marine railway consists of a cradle of wood or steel on rollers. Workers place the ship in need of repair onto the cradle and then haul it out along the fixed incline track, or “railway.” The marine railway dry-docking procedure is best used with ships weighing less than 5000 tons.
• A graving dock. This sort of dry dock is basically an excavation into the ground. The excavation, or graving trench, can be flooded when workers open its caisson (gate). Once the graving dock has been flooded, workers can “float” in the ship needing repairs or maintenance. Then they close the caisson, and pump the water back out of the graving dock. Once the ship repairs are complete, the reverse procedure occurs.

Galveston dock injury lawyers point out that dry-docking a massive ship is a complex technical process requiring proper equipment, skilled workers, and great care. Ships designed to float in water quickly become unstable when suspended outside of their normal operating medium. They can tip, roll, and overturn without proper attention to detail or when faulty equipment is used. Workers could suffer severe injuries in the ensuing accident.

If you’ve been injured in a dry-docking accident, contact our experienced Galveston dock injury lawyers for a free consultation. We are available to review the accident circumstances with you and evaluate your case to help you determine your eligibility for financial compensation for your harm. We could inform you regarding the laws and regulations governing your claim, the filing procedures you must follow, and the deadlines that could affect your case. In any serious Gulf Coast dry-docking accident, it’s vital to contact an experienced Galveston dock injury lawyer right away to protect your rights and interests. Call us toll free at 877-307-9500, or use our online contact features to schedule your initial consultation.