Slipway

A slipway is an inclined ramp running from above the waterline into the water on which a vessel is launched, hauled out, or repaired on a cradle. Construction or repair slipways use a sloped track, a wheeled cradle, and a winch or capstan to move the ship; building slipways launch a new hull by gravity end-on or side-on. The gradient, typically around 1 in 12 to 1 in 20, and the rail or way design are set by the vessel weight and the launch or haul method. Marine railways are a slipway variant using rail-mounted cradles. Slipways suit smaller craft and are a lower-cost alternative to a dry dock or ship lift for launching and recovery.