Located at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Avondale Operations Main Yard are an 81,000-ton drydock and a 20,000-ton Panamax drydock.

Avondale Operations 81,000-ton floating drydock is 900 feet long, 260 feet wide, and 78 feet to the top of the wing walls. The clear width at the inside of the wing walls is 220 feet to accommodate VLCC tankers and many unique structures such as drill rigs.

The configuration of the dock and depth of water enable the company to accomodate virtually all ships that can navigate the Mississippi River.

Depending upon the time of year, the air draft clearance under the Huey P. Long Bridge, the lowest obstruction downriver of Avondale Operations Shipyards Division, can vary between 133 feet and 153 feet.

The 81,000-ton drydock is served by two 50-ton gantry cranes located on the dock, and by two gantry cranes of 225-ton and 160-ton capacity each, located on the supporting wharf. Avondale Operations 600-ton floating heavy lift barge is available for unusually large or heavy lifts. Electrical power for dock operation is self-contained and provided by two 100 KW diesel generators. Gas freeing, supplementary shore power, and all other required water, steam, and air are also available.

A second drydock, a 20,000-ton lifting capacity Panamax floating drydock, is also available. This smaller dock, which is 705.42 feet long and 118.8 feet between wing walls, is serviced by two 25-ton cranes located on the wing walls. Additional crane service to this dock is available from two gantry cranes of 50-ton capacity each, located on the wet dock, and the 600-ton floating heavy lift barge.

The docks are particularly suitable for ship jumboizing by the addition of a midbody section or the attachment of a new forebody to an existing stern section.