Lifty, floating dry dock

In 2024, a major incident struck Belgium's maritime industry when Lifty, the largest floating dry dock at Flanders Ship Repair in Zeebrugge unexpectedly sank. This 135 meter long structure, vital for ship maintenance, had been a cornerstone of port operations for decades. The operation involved dismantling the sunken dry dock using techniques such as the Tjizzle Method, dropping a heavy steel plate to break metal below. Another technique that was used is the Cut & Grab technique, which lifted the dismantled section onto the K10031 vessel. Limited space on deck required strategic organization and regular barge trips to transport scrap. Despite challenging weather, the team worked persistently, eventually clearing the wreck. The harbor is now set for a modern replacement, aimed at supporting the future of global shipping.