🛠️Keel blocks play a crucial role in distributing the weight of a battleship during dry docking.
🖌️Painting the ship's bottom is a unique challenge due to the part that sits on the keel blocks.
🔧The shipyard workers use traditional techniques that have been in practice for over a hundred years.
💦Water is left in the dry dock to keep the mud hydrated and facilitate its removal later on.
🔩Metal bands hold the cribbing to the keel blocks and indicate weight distribution.
Why are keel blocks important in dry docking a battleship?
—Keel blocks distribute the weight of the battleship, preventing excessive pressure on small areas and the dry dock floor.
What are the challenges in painting the part of the ship that sits on keel blocks?
—The ship's bottom needs to be painted, but it is difficult to access when it rests on the keel blocks.
What techniques do the shipyard workers use in dry docking the Battleship New Jersey?
—The shipyard workers use traditional techniques that have been in practice for over a hundred years to maintain the battleship.
Why is water left in the dry dock during the maintenance process?
—Water is left in the dry dock to keep the mud hydrated and facilitate its removal during the maintenance process.
How do metal bands on the cribbing indicate weight distribution?
—If the ship's weight is properly distributed, the metal bands on the cribbing will bow out slightly. If they flatten completely, it indicates excessive weight on the blocks.
00:05Introduction to the Battleship New Jersey's dry docking process and the significance of keel blocks.
01:22Explanation of the different sizes of keel blocks used and the number required for this dry docking.
03:57Description of the benefits of using larger blocks and the use of metal bands for weight distribution.
07:59Discussion of the painting challenges faced when the ship sits on the keel blocks.
09:00Details about the traditional techniques used by the shipyard workers and the historical significance of the dry dock.
09:35Information about the ongoing dry docking efforts on Battleship New Jersey and ways to support the museum.
