§ 700.753 - Ships and craft in drydock.

(a) The commanding officer of a ship in drydock shall be responsible for effecting adequate closure, during such periods as they will be unattended, of all openings in the ship's bottom upon which no work is being undertaken by the docking activity. The commanding officer of the docking activity shall be responsible for the closing, at the end of working hours, of all valves and other openings in the ship's bottom upon which work is being undertaken by the docking activity, when such closing is practicable.

(b) Prior to undocking, the commanding officer of a ship shall report to the docking officer any material changes in the amount and location of weights on board which have been made by the ship's force while in dock, and shall ensure, and so report, that all sea valves and other openings in the ship's bottom are properly closed. The level of water in the dock shall not be permitted to rise above the keel blocks prior to receipt of this report. The above valves and openings shall be tended during flooding of the dock.

(c) When a ship or craft, not in commission, is in a naval drydock, the provisions of this article shall apply, except that the commanding officer of the docking activity or his representative shall act in the capacity of the commanding officer.

(d) When a naval ship or craft is in drydock in a private shipyard, responsibility for actions normally assigned by the commanding officer of the docking activity will be assigned by contract to the contractor.