The Evolutionary Development of Floating Dry Docks

Abstract

The floating dry dock represents one of the most technologically advanced structures ever designed to operate in a maritime environment. These indispensable repair facilities provided necessary maintenance to commercial and naval fleets operating in waters where traditional graving dry docks were impractical or impossible to erect. As technological development allowed for construction of larger sailing and steam vessels, a corresponding progression ensued within the floating dry docks contracted to service and maintain all vessels, up to the largest ships of the day. By analyzing various models of technological evolution as they apply to developments within floating dry docks, the author asks whether their historical advancements qualify as evolutionary, or if individual docks developed solely in response to specific environmental constraints.