This thesis is a comprehensive study of ship docking, in the widest sense of the word, as an unavoidable maritime activity relating to all kinds of ships, watercrafts, floating crafts and off-shore installations. It has been based on examples from practice involving over two thousand dockings which have been systemized, statistically elaborated, closely studied, and limited to ships sized up to 100 m in length and up to 1500 t of displacement. Apart from the history of development, all types of docks have been elaborated inclusive of their operational advantages and shortcomings, as well as the floating dock anchoring technology, docking plan, determination of vessel's position in dock and preparation of blocks for different types of vessels, their list and trim. The types of port entering and leaving manoeuvring as well as vessel mooring in floating dock subject to different winds and currents are also described. Particular attention has been given to the stability of docks and docked vessels and to the ballasting system without which no safe docking would be possible. The most important part of the thesis deals with specific docking cases such as docking of a listed ship, trimmed ship, multiple docking alongside dock longitudinal, multiple docking off dock longitudinal, and partial docking of a ship. Stability calculations have been made for each of the cases and for the first time in our national technical literature, which is sparse and insufficient, conceptual management models have been worked out which enable the docking system analytical management using an application-oriented approach. As a consequence, docking time is reduced, as well as damages, while safety of property and persons during drydocking is increased. Particular attention has been given to partial drydocking of a ship exceeding in size the dry dock tonnage. Using ship trimming to produce spare buoyancy, the ship weight is reduced, thus enabling drydocking in cases of emergency such as propeller or rudder failures.