DOCKING, LIFTING & DRY-DOCK PLANNING

Project Manager control of lifting, docking and vessel-support operations

 

Moving a yacht from the water onto a travel lift, syncrolift, dry dock or other support system is a critical operation requiring technical preparation, clear responsibilities and controlled communication.

The Project Manager should confirm that the lifting method, vessel displacement, docking arrangement, structural support positions and yard equipment are appropriate before the operation begins.

The objective is to protect the yacht, personnel and yard equipment while ensuring that the vessel is positioned correctly for the planned refit work.

Key responsibilities

  • Obtain the latest approved docking plan.
  • Confirm vessel length, beam, draft, displacement and expected lifting weight.
  • Confirm the lifting equipment is suitable for the yacht and intended operation.
  • Establish approved sling, cradle, keel-block and support positions.
  • Identify stabilisers, shafts, propellers, rudders, thrusters, transducers and other underwater appendages.
  • Confirm that slings or supports will not load vulnerable hull areas or underwater equipment.
  • Confirm tank conditions and significant liquid loads before lifting.
  • Confirm yacht trim and list before the operation.
  • Identify any special structural limitations or naval-architect instructions.
  • Confirm Class attendance where required by the survey scope.
  • Establish the communication chain between captain, yacht crew, yard lift operator and Project Manager.
  • Establish an exclusion zone around the lifting operation.
  • Confirm shore access, scaffolding and boarding arrangements after docking.
  • Confirm emergency and abort procedures before the lift begins.

 

PRE-LIFT & DOCKING CHECK

Before lifting or docking, the Project Manager should verify, where applicable:

  • General Arrangement plan
  • Current docking plan
  • Vessel displacement / estimated lift weight
  • Length overall, beam and draft
  • Centre-of-gravity information where relevant
  • Sling positions
  • Keel-block positions
  • Bilge / side-support positions
  • Hull material: steel, aluminium or composite
  • Stabiliser-fin positions
  • Propeller and shaft positions
  • Rudder positions
  • Bow and stern thruster locations
  • Sonar, speed log and depth-sounder transducers
  • Sea chests and through-hull fittings
  • Sacrificial anodes
  • Tank levels
  • Fuel load
  • Fresh-water load
  • Grey / black-water status
  • Ballast condition
  • Tender, crane and deck-equipment loads
  • Mast / rig considerations for sailing yachts
  • Travel-lift or dry-dock capacity
  • Crane requirements if equipment must be removed beforehand
  • Shore-power arrangements after docking
  • Fire and emergency access
  • Personnel exclusion area
  • Yacht access once ashore
  • Scaffolding requirements
  • Ground condition / cradle stability
  • Weather limitations
  • Captain / yacht representative approval of the planned operation

PROJECT MANAGER COMPETENCY TEST

Scenario 1 — Travel-Lift Capacity

A 62-metre yacht is booked for haul-out. The travel lift has sufficient nominal capacity, but the yacht has recently taken on fuel and significant stores and the current displacement has not been confirmed.

Question:
What should the Project Manager do?

A. Proceed because the lift is rated above the yacht’s design displacement
B. Confirm the expected lifting weight and operating condition before authorising the lift
C. Ask the captain to estimate the additional weight verbally
D. Lift the yacht slowly and monitor the travel lift

Correct answer: B

Why:
The Project Manager should work with a verified or reasonably substantiated vessel condition. Tank loads, stores and other weight changes can materially affect the lifting operation.

Scenario 2 — Sling Position

The docking plan shows the correct support arrangement, but one proposed travel-lift sling position is close to a stabiliser fin.

Question:
What is the correct response?

A. Continue if the sling does not visibly touch the fin
B. Reposition the sling in accordance with the approved lifting / docking arrangement before lifting
C. Remove the stabiliser fin immediately
D. Ask the crane operator to decide

Correct answer: B

Why:
Sling positioning must account for underwater appendages and permitted structural loading areas. The lift should not proceed until the arrangement is confirmed.

Scenario 3 — Tank Condition

Immediately before haul-out, the captain informs the Project Manager that several tanks are significantly different from the condition assumed during docking preparation.

Question:
What should happen?

A. Continue because liquid loads do not affect docking
B. Reconfirm vessel weight, trim and docking assumptions before proceeding
C. Empty every tank completely
D. Add more keel blocks after the yacht is ashore

Correct answer: B

Why:
Tank condition can affect total weight, trim, list and load distribution. Material changes should be reviewed before the vessel is lifted or supported ashore.

Scenario 4 — Communication During Lift

During the lift, a crew member sees something that may interfere with a sling and begins giving instructions directly to the travel-lift operator.

Question:
What should the Project Manager do?

A. Allow all crew members to communicate directly with the operator
B. Maintain the agreed communication chain and stop the operation if a safety concern requires investigation
C. Ignore the crew member
D. Continue until the yacht is completely clear of the water

Correct answer: B

Why:
Lifting operations require controlled communication. A genuine concern should be acted upon, but conflicting instructions from multiple people create additional risk.

MODULE COMPLETION

Before completing this module, the Project Manager should be able to:

  • identify the information required before lifting a yacht
  • explain the purpose of the docking plan
  • identify vulnerable underwater appendages
  • confirm the importance of vessel displacement and tank condition
  • understand basic sling, cradle and support considerations
  • establish a controlled communication chain
  • identify when an operation should be paused or reassessed
  • coordinate captain, yard, lift operator and technical representatives
  • plan safe yacht access after docking

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