How Can We Help?

Graving Docks are unique civil engineering facilities, typically comprised of an open pit with basin sidewalls, a headwall, and a closure gate to allow for the drydocking of a vessel.  These facilities are simple, yet complex geo-structural facilities which require specialized expertise to maintain and keep them operationally certified and ready to support the fleet.  SYE offers a range of services from inspection and certification to maintenance and long-term planning.

Thoughts???.....Ideas???....We are here to help.  We have worked with our clients over a range of thoughts and ideas from small private shipyards wanting to incorporate a new Mobile Boat Hauler, to working with the U.S. Navy to develop next generation drydocking  ideas.  SYE has a proven track record of providing engineering solutions and we want to understand what your needs are so we can work to turn your ideas into reality.  We are here at the ready to help.

Floating Dry Docks provide an amazing tool to our industry for launching and drydocking vessels.  These facilities also present a unique challenge as they operate in a harsh marine environment.  Our knowledge and experience allows us to help with all aspects of floating dry docks, from preliminary planning, feasibility studies, dry dock inspection and certification, maintenance planning, dry dock capacity and stability analysis, and support for drydocking operations.

Requirements for drydocking typically require the need for providing docking plans and supportive calculations.  These requirements range from routine drydocking / undocking calculations, to alternative blocking plans, to mooring calculations, to review and / or modification of standard operational procedures.  Regardless of the situation, we are here to help in any way to fulfill your contractual needs.

In 1957, Mr. Raymond Pearlson invented and built the first Syncrolift® Shiplift with a lifting capacity of 100 tons.  Today, SYE works to support the Shiplift System through all ranges of projects including feasibility studies, dry dock inspection and certification, maintenance overhauls, and new construction.  Our projects range in complexity from small private Shiplifts, to new modern world-class Shiplifts launching and drydocking U.S. Navy assets.  

Storms have caused severe damage to our maritime infrastructure including shipyards and drydocking facilities.  SYE is proud to partner with local, private, state, and federal organizations to help with recovery efforts.  For example, in 2013, SYE was a proud partner with state and federal agencies to evaluate the damage caused from Superstorm Sandy which caused extensive damage to the Brooklyn Navy Yard Drydocking Facilities.

Marine railways present a unique engineering challenge for an old, yet proven drydocking capability.  We understand the complexities of marine railways.  Our experience includes dry dock inspection and certification, drydocking cradle upgrades,  load capacity evaluation, maintenance, marine railway track line and grade adjustments, track adjustments and shimming.

Our industry involves unique, complex and ageing infrastructure and systems.  We are used to working with these systems and understand that maintenance is critically important; however, shipyard schedules do not always allow for maintenance to be performed as planned.  We will work with you to maintain your systems and if necessary, evaluate if deferred maintenance is plausible.

For smaller vessels, generally under a displacement of 400 long tons, lifting with a crane for drydocking requires unique experience.  We have successfully load tested and certified lifting / drydocking cradles, certified rigging spreader bars, certified groundways, certified piers, and approved drydocking operations to lift and drydock U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy vessels.

Mobile Boat Haulers present a new and exciting challenge to the maritime industry.  These mobile machines / structures present a unique engineering challenge to verify the capability of not only the mobile boat hauler lifting machine, but also the civil works (groundways), and finger piers to support the imposed loading during drydocking and undocking operations.  Our team has experience with these lifting machines and the supporting civil works infrastructure.

Evaluation of a drydocking facility is sometimes necessary to determine if the existing material condition of the facility is safe for continued use at the certified rated capacity.  SYE offers multiple tools, including MAESTRO Finite Element Analysis package to support you with this evaluation and decision making.  We have utilized this program to evaluate floating dry docks and caisson gates in their corroded state to evaluate capacity, stability, buoyancy, and safe life capability. 

If you have questions, we have answers.  We have decades of experience in our industry at the ready to support  your needs.  We want the opportunity to understand your needs.  We want to work with you to help meet your goals and grow your business.  Contact us and let us know how we can help!