floating dock

American  

noun

1. a submersible, floating structure used as a dry dock, having a floor that is submerged, slipped under a floating vessel, and then raised so as to raise the vessel entirely out of the water.

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floating dock British  

noun

1. Also called: floating dry dock.  a large boxlike structure that can be submerged to allow a vessel to enter it and then floated to raise the vessel out of the water for maintenance or repair

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Etymology

Origin of floating dock

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Other luxe amenities include a floating dock and boat ramp, two outdoor pools, and a helipad.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 9, 2025

Its high-margin ship-repair segment offers steady earnings, underpinned by structural tailwinds from an ageing global fleet and upcoming third floating dock.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 5, 2025

In a statement Tuesday, harbor officials said the incident illuminated “a new vulnerability in floating dock design: a previously underrecognized hydrodynamic failure mechanism.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 5, 2025

A separate ship is on its way from the US carrying materials to build a floating dock and pier, to enable supplies on far larger cargo ships to get ashore.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2024

He sank into the waves and swam under the floating dock.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi