FLOATING DRY DOCK FDD55​
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PRE-OPERATION SETUP
A/ before starting the game, if you already know which ship you will dry dock open the vehicle.cfg file and make sure [has_deck]=0.
B/ once Virtual Sailor NG is running, go to "Options/Graphics/Vehicle/Other options"and check the option "hide water in cabin". Turn it off...
C/ floating docks require calm water anchorage especially when ships are moved in; in the simulator you should adjust the weather accordingly
[moderate wind, few or no waves, no current] in order to avoid any drift during the operation.
DRY DOCKING
A-THE FASTEST WAY
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1 / after docking FDD55 stay in the center of the deck and remain aligned with the longitudinal axis of the dock (if you're not already there,
go to view 13 and press F1); keep the "Docking" panel open as well as the "Vehicle" panel
2 / add the ship of your choice as usually through the "Vehicle" panel, she will quickly heel a bit, no worries, she won't capsize
3 / select chase view (F2) and assess the situation (you're still in the FDD55's view 13)
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You'll notice that the ship either "floats" above the deck or had landed below the keel blocks level. In fact, the level of the deck [= the top of the keel boxes]acts as the ground surface for the ship.
This means that the elevation of the deck must be adjusted depending of the ship as all models aren't built the same way.
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4/ now proceed to the corrective elevation of the ship:
> go to command "Design/Vehicle"(remember you're still in the FDD55's view 13 in chase mode)
> select properties and find command line "deck_alt"
> increase or decrease the value incrementaly by small values (like half meter) till the boat hull rests on the keel blocks
[direct input of estimated or real value most often leads to game crashing]; every time you enter a new value don't forget to valid
> exit the "Design" panel, dock again or freeze FDD55,
> finally select your ship
> go to command "Change/Vehicle/Adjust/Repair", the ship will recover briefly from heeling
> then in the docking panel apply "Freeze Motion ", the ship is now frozen in it's position. Back to "Repair" if need to correct again the ship...
Similar option go to "Break & Sink" in the "Ajust" panel
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That's it! You can now play the different animation (warning: no workers on the upper decks when the cranes are moving! :)
To release the vessel, it's a nobrainer! Simply reverse the procedure...you will unfreeze both the dock and the ship so that the former can dive and the latter can float.
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B-THE OTHER WAY (that simulate all the dry docking operation)
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1 / select FDD55, play the animation [ctrl+A], it will move cranes in proper position near the bow...then you can play anim3 which brings the workers on the upper decks.
If you move the ship with the help of tugs you'll need to open the communication bridges at the bow, for that play Gear animation [shift+G]
2 / undock FDD55 in order to ballast
3 / the immersion is done by overloading the vessel through the command "Change/Vehicule/Adjust". Slide Loading cursor from100% to 250% [do it gently to avoid the dock yo-yoing] and freeze the dock ("Docking" panel)
4 / check the incoming ship...go to the command "Design/Vehicle/Properties" and make sure [has_deck] value is 0
5 / after positioning the ship in the axis of the dock, set up the speed about 1knot, using autopilot will help having steady and controlable maneuver
6 / once in, before docking the ship, check and correct, if necessary, her alignment using the mooring lines
7 / after freezing the ship, release the dry dock and proceed to it's unloading
8 / unfreeze the ship for she can lift accordingly
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Now proceed to the corrective elevation of the ship as describe previously.