Drydocking?

[Goldie fish]

No, they are busy enough with the heavy stuff. The Dockyard itself only has a staff of about 50. If they are busy, sometimes they borrow tradesmen from the Former H&W yerd in Belfast.

[golden rivet]

dublin could never realistically be used unless a naval base is constructed there. If a ship is in drydock there, how do the crew get to work everyday?

Dublin was a great drydock while on the sweepers the crew had to use a toilet on the quay wall and most of us had shares in the wharf tavern as at the time we had many a stand easy there ( coffee of course) and then back to work to help the dockers with the caulking of the decks ... happy days ...

[ELVIS]

How would the ship need a crew if it was in drydock?

The crew still have to work. The ship still requires quartermasters and its the busiest time of year for the engineer and engineering branch. The bosun will be trying to get bits and pieces done as well.

[hedgehog]

what do the crew do when its in dry dock- depoly to another boat

[Goldie fish]

what do the crew do when its in dry dock- depoly to another boat

You won't fit the entire crew of a Naval Vessel into a "Boat" unless its the David F.

The crew still have to work. The ship still requires quartermasters and its the busiest time of year for the engineer and engineering branch. The bosun will be trying to get bits and pieces done as well.

Who do you think does the maintenance work while she is in drydock? Dockyard staff do the engineering bit, but the housekeeping is all Naval.

There are some photos of other NS Ships in drydock in the gallery.
The Proximity to the Naval base means that those not accomodated aboard ship can return to their normal accomodation, in the same way as they would when they are not aboard ship. i.e, they can go home at night.

[armedboarder]

Aoife is in verlome at the moment.

[ZULU]

L.E. Aoife is in Drydock at Rushbrooke at the moment. Interesting to see her out of the water if you haven't seen it before.

Snap!!

[Test Pilot]

How would the ship need a crew if it was in drydock?

Even though the ship is in dry dock, life goes on as normal. The generators are shut down, and the ship is connected to a shore supply (ESB), to maintain on board services. i.e. lighting, heating, computers, cooking etc. Likewise, a water mains is also connected for fire fighting, showers, drinking water and so on. The only parts to be closed down were the heads ( toilets for those non sea going types). Usually, there were shore based facilities provided, if you could call them that in some places.
The dry dock in the Dublin pic was built in early 1800, and is shortly to be filled in by the Port of Dublin. There is a much larger graving dock close by to facilitate ships today. The second pic is of Ciara in Cork Dockyard.

[ELVIS]

Even though the ship is in dry dock, life goes on as normal. The generators are shut down, and the ship is connected to a shore supply (ESB), to maintain on board services. i.e. lighting, heating, computers, cooking etc. Likewise, a water mains is also connected for fire fighting, showers, drinking water and so on. The only parts to be closed down were the heads ( toilets for those non sea going types). Usually, there were shore based facilities provided, if you could call them that in some places.
The dry dock in the Dublin pic was built in early 1800, and is shortly to be filled in by the Port of Dublin. There is a much larger graving dock close by to facilitate ships today. The second pic is of Ciara in Cork Dockyard.

real nice pic of ciara. Is that the loiter drive in between the main props? haven't seen it out of water.
In the picture, 3rd from the left, is he in the army now?

[The real Jack]

Do the ships spend much time in drydock?

[Test Pilot]

real nice pic of ciara. Is that the loiter drive in between the main props? haven't seen it out of water.
In the picture, 3rd from the left, is he in the army now?

Yes that is the loiter drive in the center. I lost track of Ken S. when he left he service. He was the PO Mech then. Shared a cabin with him and two others, great times!
Attached photo's of Aoife in dry dock.

[Test Pilot]

The drydock in Dublin is over 200M long. We will never have a vessel so long that it would not fit in the graving dock in Rushbrook let alone Dublin, ( Emer is 65.2M LOA ).

It would make no sense to spend money on the disused dock in Haulbowline, Dublin and Rushbrooke are underused as it is, besides it would cost millions,new pumps,switch boards, electrical supply, transformers, valves and caissons are needed,the sill would need to be rebuilt as it would no longer provied a watertight seal, besides the capitol cost there would be a cost of tens of thousands just to operate and maintain it.
I think there are better ways to spend money like more bertage and crainage,you can never have enough of these!

I agree that at this point in time is may not be feasable to restore the dry dock in Haulbowline. However, it might be on the cards some time in the future, if say Cork Dockyard was sold off and the site used for apartments. Remember it is privately owned!
With regard to the reconstruction of the dock in Haulbowline, the only real damage that has been done, is the neglect of the dock gate and the filling of the pump house with cement. The cill is still ok and will remain so indefinitely. The side sluce gates are also still in place.
One unique feature of this dock is hidden from view, under water. Where the old docks had stepped sides from the bottom to the surface, this dock has vaulted supports on both sides, from about half way up. A colleague of mine one carried out a survey of the dock and on the way up the side he became lost in a cavern under one of these arches. It took him some minutes to figure his way out.
One thing for certain, even though this dock may not be used in our time, it should be preserved as part of our heritage for future generations. I hope it never goes to infilling like the solid granite dock in Dublin port. Take for instance the old dry docks at Liverpool and Porthsmouth they are used for a variety of reasons, like the display of old ships. Did someone say a maritime museum migh be on the cards for Haulbowline?
Let not the powers that be, be too hasty in their decisions.

Attached pic of pump house in Cork dockyard.

[hptmurphy]

I remeber spending six weeks in Dry dock in Dublin in 1986..these were used a leave period and the rest of the crew worked ship.

A lot of that time was spent playing with the sonar dome.Duties still had to be carried out.It was a very cold dreary place.At the time it was a very long walk into town...even the Point was still a storage area for CIE...the Wharf tavern was one very rough spot.

[hedgehog]

the Wharf tavern was one very rough spot.
__________________

Now its a very very posh spot

[hptmurphy]

Must have cleaned up all the blood from the floor ,walls and ceilings.....and ****ed out all the dockers and navy heads...

[hedgehog]

even better they took it out of it all together

[golden rivet]

even better they took it out of it all together

what is there now. It was a great spot for a session when we were there and the dockers knew us so we got no hassle . we had to rename it once as a small dublin chief era joined the ship we called it the dwarf tavern..

[Test Pilot]

what is there now. It was a great spot for a session when we were there and the dockers knew us so we got no hassle . we had to rename it once as a small dublin chief era joined the ship we called it the dwarf tavern..

Was that Little Mac?

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi there
Whats that grille in the side of the hull?
regards
GttC

[Test Pilot]

Hi there
Whats that grille in the side of the hull?
regards
GttC

Hi GTTC, from it's position it appears to be the water intake for the generators. Water would be taken from here to a valve chest for distribution to the three main generators. If not its the general services pump. The blade (or fin) located just ahead of the grill is the st.bd stabilizer. Hope this helps!

[hptmurphy]

And forward of that just behind the bow is the bow thruster which was only fitted to two of the four P20 class.Its the circular 'hole' just behind the bulbous bow.

[yooklid]

Attached pic of pump house in Cork dockyard.

Jesus that could do with a shot blast and a lick of hammerite.

[Test Pilot]

Jesus that could do with a shot blast and a lick of hammerite.

You should see some of the rest of the hardware around the dock! The crane on the north side of the dock had to be removed last year as it was condemed.

[golden rivet]

Was that Little Mac?

no little ray,,

[Goldie fish]

You should see some of the rest of the hardware around the dock! The crane on the north side of the dock had to be removed last year as it was condemed.

Photos of said event.