Dry dock

Every once in a while – just like a car – big ships have to undergo technical maintenance. And if the cars are lifted the ships are taken care of differently: the are being repaired in dry docks.

A drydock (also commonly dry dock) is a narrow basin or vessel that can be flooded to allow a load to be floated in, then drained to allow that load to come to rest on a dry platform. Drydocks are used for the construction, maintenance, and repair of ships, boats, and other watercraft.

Usually the companies use the time when the ships is in dock for other repairs: carper change, pipes and air-conditioning works etc. So for the crew who stay onboard it is on one hand life full of challenges with water, electricity and - most importantly - air conditioning disappearing all the time. Sometimes without prior notice and for random periods.
On the other hand it is the time when we can discover ports without clocks ticking down our necks: there is no curfiew and everyone is welcome to come and go as they please. As long as it does not contradict their duties, of course.

Greek ferry in the next dock

General view of a dry dock: the water starts coming in before the boat is set free

 In our case the major work was done on Azipods - giant motors under the ship.

As the motors are stripped off the propellers they look sort of weird

Obviously what is below the blue line is usually under water

Same area viewed from the top of the ship

The time in dry dock is so expensive that work does not stop even for the night:

Night work

Night work 

Night work

The dry dock is located in Marseille suburbs is a part of large port and dock area. Marseille has served its role as gateway to French Empire from its North African colonies of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. It continues being an important port even after the abolition of colonial system.

The Old Port located in the heart of city was replaced as the main port for trade by the Port de la Joliette during the Second Empire. In the 1970's with the help of EU funds the port and dock area were moved further from the city and now create quite an impressive panorama:

Greek ferry in the neighbored dock  

Closeup of the hull

Giant cranes are an important part of dry rock operation. In the background - giant oil and container port with a cargo ship being loaded

Of course, for us the time spent in dry dock was an opportunity to discover Provence - beautiful area of France...