What Is a Cruise Ship Float Out?

By Alice Nichols

A cruise ship float out is an event that marks the official launch of a cruise ship from its construction site. Usually, the float out happens about two weeks before the ship is set to be officially delivered to its cruise line.

The event happens with great fanfare and celebration and involves the ship being carefully moved from dry dock to water for the first time.

The float out process begins when a team of engineers, architects, and workers secure the ship into place and carefully inspect it for any signs of leaks or other potential issues that could affect its performance during sea trials. Once this step is complete, water is pumped into the dry dock until it reaches a predetermined level that’s just high enough to float the vessel off its blocks.

Once this level is reached, a tugboat slowly pulls the ship away from the dock and out into open waters. As this happens, there’s often a crowd of spectators gathered around who are eager to witness this momentous occasion. Cruise ships often have champagne bottles smashed against their hulls during their float outs as an old-world tradition.

Once in open waters, engineers and workers perform several tests to make sure everything is functioning properly before beginning sea trials. During these trials, they will test all of the on-board systems such as propulsion and navigation systems as well as conducting safety drills such as fire suppression tests.

Conclusion:
A cruise ship float out is an event that marks a major milestone in construction of a new vessel. It involves pumping water into dry docks so that vessels can be pulled away by tugboats and taken out into open waters for testing prior to sea trials. Float outs are occasions filled with great fanfare and celebration.