Drydocking of Electric Boat’s Caisson Gate
MIL–STD–1625D certified graving docks are required to dry dock their caisson gates once every 10 years. Because their own drydocking facilities were occupied, Electric Boat contracted nearby Thames Shipyard to do the overhaul.
Because the Floating dock at Thames could not achieve the required draft for docking Electric Boat’s caisson, Heger was asked to devise a method for reducing the draft of the gate.
Several options, including buoyancy bags were considered, but in the end, Large Padeyes were installed allowing a crane to partially lift the gate in order to achieve the required draft.
