Drydock planning

How to write a drydock specification shipyards can actually quote

A practical structure for turning the drydock scope into items that every shipyard prices the same way.

7 min read

Most surprises in a drydock start in the specification. When the scope is vague, each shipyard fills the gaps with its own assumptions, and the quotes stop being comparable before anyone opens them.

Start from the work, not from the budget

List the work packages first: hull, propulsion, cathodic protection, piping and valves, class and statutory items, owner requests. Each package becomes a group of tasks with its own scope, location on board, and responsible person.

Work package and task description
Location on board and access needed
Class or statutory reference, when applicable
Owner supply versus shipyard supply

Make every item measurable

A shipyard can only price what it can measure. Use units and quantities (m², hours, pieces, days in dock) and state what is included: surface preparation, scaffolding, testing, disposal, and services such as power, water, and cranes.

Separate optional work and unknowns

Items that depend on an inspection, such as steel renewal or valve overhauls found during opening up, should be priced as unit rates. This keeps the base quote comparable and gives you an agreed price for the extras that will probably appear.

Freeze the version you send

Approve the specification and keep that version as the reference for quotes and later variations. If the scope changes, issue a new version to every shipyard at the same time, so nobody is quoting an outdated document.