Customers seek Dock Repair for a variety of reasons. Some are caused by weather damage like rotting wood or weakened pilings, and some are caused by normal wear and tear.
It’s common for a dock to develop wood rot. If the rot is contained to one or two areas, replacing those boards with treated wood can be a simple fix.
Structural Inspection
A structural inspection is a visual examination performed by a professional engineer to assess the structural soundness of a home or building’s load-bearing elements such as joists, foundation, beams, columns, and trusses. This inspection determines whether the components of a structure were designed and built to accept the anticipated loads to be placed upon them, and whether the load-bearing elements are still performing their intended function.
Structural home inspections are generally done at the recommendation of a general inspector or if the property owner has questions about a potential problem with the foundation, frame, or other weight-bearing elements. During construction more of the structural elements can be inspected, but after construction is completed some of these components are obstructed by finished walls, flooring, ceilings, and doors. The inspection looks for signs of deterioration, excessive stress or damage to the structure and determines whether these elements are continuing to perform their intended function.
Some of the issues that can be evaluated during a structural home inspection include horizontal and vertical cracks in drywall or concrete, signs of movement in the floor or foundation, sagging roofs, and sloping floors. Often, these signs indicate that shifting or settling has taken place and can be very serious if left unchecked. Structural home inspections can also identify problems such as standing water in crawl spaces or basements, a lack of ventilation, and other moisture-related issues that can cause damage and even lead to rot.
While many issues found during a structural home inspection can be repaired by an experienced contractor, it’s important to get these repairs completed by a licensed professional engineer. This is to ensure that the repairs are done correctly and will not lead to additional issues in the future.
When you hire a structural engineer from BUSTAMANTE ENGINEERS, you can rest assured that we will provide an expert report and a scope of work that a contractor can use to complete the necessary repairs or replacements. We will also be available to perform site visits during these modifications to ensure that the repairs are being executed correctly.
Waterproofing
A dry dock is a structure which allows ships to be drained of water and rested in it for repair. The structure consists of a bottom or dike plan, side walls and a floodgate. It is filled with water by pumps to an appropriate level for the docking. The vessel is maneuvered into the dock and rested on keel blocks or bilge blocks, which are specially designed to copy the shape of the ship.
While the block structures are being prepared, a team of divers is on hand to ensure that they are positioned correctly. This is important as it will prevent damage to the hull due to an incorrect resting position. It is also an opportunity to inspect the anchors and cables for wear or damage. If any of these are found to be worn or damaged, they can be replaced.
During the flooding, an effective communication system is maintained so that if evidence of instability or untoward ingress of water is detected, the operation may be halted. The ship’s superintendent and SMT will confer during this time to discuss the situation and any remedial measures which should be taken.
Before the ship is permitted to enter the dry dock, it is necessary to ensure that all of the relevant safety systems are functioning properly. This is particularly important if the ship is carrying passengers, cargo or supernumeraries. Arrangements should be made to have a Sea-Going Maintenance (SGM) team on board during the dry dock to undertake any maintenance work that is deemed essential for the safe operation of the vessel after it leaves the yard.
Once the repairs are completed, the dock is reflooded and the vessel is allowed to float out of the dock into a nearby berth. A final inspection is conducted and function tests are performed.
Dry docking is a costly process, which requires planning, preparation and stringent project cost control by competent personnel. Failure to do this can result in significant delays, and even a loss of earnings for the company. To avoid such problems, it is advisable for companies to use cost grouping and workflow management tools to assign repair yard tasks and processes.
Installation
Loading dock equipment is a critical piece of the puzzle for operations that deal with goods transportation. It creates a secure temperature-controlled environment that helps to comply with regulations like the Food Safety Modernization Act and prevents weather, pests, and other environmental hazards from damaging or contaminating shipments. It’s important to keep these assets in top working condition by ensuring regular maintenance and repairs by experienced professionals.
Some of the most common warehouse accidents occur in dock areas, often due to malfunctioning or poorly functioning equipment. While it’s important to have expert technicians on call to respond to emergency repair requests, a better strategy involves proactive maintenance that helps reduce the amount of downtime and avoidable accidents in dock areas.
For instance, a common problem is when dock levelers aren’t working properly or mechanically fail to raise up and lower. This can result in serious safety issues for your employees as well as wasted energy. Thankfully, this issue is almost always a simple fix when you work with an experienced team of experts.
A professional will begin by inspecting the dock posts underwater using scuba gear to check for any signs of damage or deterioration. They’ll also look at the wood planks and railings that make up the structure of the dock. Any damaged or rotting parts are then removed and replaced as necessary. Then, the professionals will spend time waterproofing the replacement planks and posts to ensure they’re protected from future problems.
Dock bumpers are another critical piece of safety equipment for your loading dock. They absorb up to 95% of the impact of backing trucks hitting the dock, which protects both your freight and your investment in your equipment. It’s recommended that you replace these pads at least once per year to keep them in peak condition.
Other dock safety equipment includes barriers around ledges, dock shelters, and vehicle restraint systems. These systems help to segregate truck and pedestrian traffic, reduce the chance of injury or death to your workforce, and prevent vehicles from falling off unguarded ledges. Keeping these assets in good working order by frequent inspections and replacement can significantly improve safety in your shipping and receiving area.
Final Inspection
The old adage “failure to prepare is preparation for failure” is especially true when it comes to docking. A ship needs to be inspected, cleaned and repaired before it can safely leave dry dock. This process allows crew members to explore parts of the vessel that can’t be easily accessed while at sea. It also ensures that the vessel is in tip-top condition and ready for its next voyage.
A dry dock is a large, rectangular narrow basin. It looks like a lock and is made of concrete slabs. A ship is placed in the dry dock, and the water is pumped out so that the ship rests on one or more blocks called keel blocks. These blocks are designed to copy the shape of the ship’s hull and keep it stable. The keel blocks are typically fitted with reinforcing bars that make them strong enough to hold the ship’s weight.
During the dry docking process, the crew can carry out many repairs and inspections on the underwater part of the ship. These include renewal of the sacrificial anodes, re-profiling of the rudder and propellers, repair of the rudder, underwater blasting to remove fouling and a number of other repairs.
All the cargo spaces, equipment and systems are thoroughly inspected and flushed before the ship leaves the dry dock. A comprehensive Defect List is prepared and any defects that cannot be repaired in service are added to the list for future reference.
In addition to these critical steps, the Master must ensure that all systems are fully functional and properly manned throughout the dry docking period. He must also inform his crew and passengers of the safety requirements by posting notices, giving instructions with regard to the use of the fire control equipment and holding meetings. He must also ensure that all enclosed spaces have been declared gas free by signing the relevant certificates.
It is important that the master makes arrangements to have a superintendent aboard the vessel during the entire docking period to supervise the work being carried out. This person can also evaluate whether it is necessary to stay on board during the ensuing passages taking into account the need to negotiate the account with the contractor(s). He must also ensure that the ship has the capacity to cope with any adverse weather conditions that may arise during the voyage.