QUESTIONS FROM PAST PAPERS

(Answers compiled by Vishnu Sharma)

Question: Why is Centre of Pressure (COP) of a vertical surface below its centroid?
or
Prove that for a vertical surface, the distance of COP from liquid surface is greater than distance of
centroid of immersed area?
Answer: Centroid of the immersed area is the geometric centre of the immersed area. The COP on a
immersed area is the point through which the resultant force (Thrust) on the surface may be assumed to
be acting through.
Let:
z: be the vertical distance of COP from liquid surface
d: be the vertical distance of the centroid of the immersed area from the liquid surface
IGG: be M.O.I. (2nd moment of immersed area) about an axis passing though the centroid of
immersed area and parallel to liquid surface
ILL: be M.O.I. (2nd moment of immersed area) about the liquid surface
A: be the immersed area
z=

I LL

IGG + Axd 2

IGG

Axd 2

IGG

+d

z > d i.e. distance of COP from liquid surface is greater than distance of the centroid or COP
is below the centroid.

Question: What type of dock would you prefer to dock your ship in - graving of floating dock?
Answer: Each type of dock has its advantages and disadvantages. Principally, these are as follows:
Advantages of a Graving / Basin Dock:
1. Long life expectancy of the basic structure.
2. Low maintenance costs. (Dock floor and walls can be built of granite or concrete which last a
very long time with little maintenance)
3. There is no limit to the size of the basin dock.
4. There is no need to worry about ship/dock stability, pumping plans or longitudinal deflection
of the dock while docking ships. (Ship stability and block loading must still be addressed,
however)
5. The basin can be equipped with an intermediate gate that allows flooding of the aft half of the
dock while the forward half remains dry.
Disadvantages of a Graving / Basin Dock:
1. High initial construction cost.
2. The basin is a fixed structure, which cannot be moved. Makes it harder to re-sell thus harder to
get financing.
3. Routing of men and material is difficult since floor is below grade.
4. Ventilation and lighting are not good because one has to work in a hole.

5. It is very difficult to enlarge a basin dock.

6. Transfer is not possible from a basin dock.
7. Usually slower to operate (Power is inversely proportional to size).
Advantages of a Floating Dock are:
1. It does not use valuable waterfront real estate.
2. It can be built at the yard of low bidder and towed to the site; this keeps construction costs low
by increasing competition.
3. It can be sold on the world market, which keeps resale values high and makes it easier to get
bank financing.
4. Vessels can be transferred to and from shore relatively easily.
5. Dock can be operated with a list or trim when docking vessels with a list or trim. This can
reduce block loading and reduce or eliminate vessel stability problems when landing.
6. Vessels longer than the dry dock can be docked by overhanging the bow and/or stern.
7. The dock can be easily moved for dredging.
8. Minimal landslide civil works are required which can result in easier permitting.
9. The dock can be moved away from land to deeper water for docking and undocking operations.
This can reduce or eliminate dredging and bulk-heading requirements.
10. The dock can be lengthened relatively easily.
Disadvantages of a floating dry dock are:
1. High maintenance is required on pumps, valves and steel structure.
2. Routing of men and material is restricted to gangplank and/or crane service.
3. Large tidal variations can complicate gangways, mooring etc.
As evident from above, the choice of the dock will depend on whether you are dock-owner, shipowner or the ship-operator and ship-condition like load, damage etc.
As a ship master, if the ship does not have any limitations regarding its condition, both types of dry
docks are equally acceptable as long as adequate stability can be ensured during the critical period.
The advantages of each type concerning the ship-master are highlighted above. In view of the same, if
the ship is either laden or damaged with adverse trim/list, then a floating dock option if available is
preferable as the dock itself can be trimmed/listed to allow for adverse trim/list. However, all other
conditions being normal, a graving dock may be preferred as same shall relieve the concerns about
ship/dock stability, pumping plans or longitudinal deflection of the dock during docking of the ship.