The verdict in three sentences
For a Singapore ship repair yard, the expensive problem is rarely the quote itself: it is idle dry dock days, class survey deadlines that slip and subcontractor hours that never make it onto the final invoice. Software that ties dock slot planning, job quotes, variation orders and subcontractor timesheets together can lift dock occupancy by 8 to 15 points and recover most of the unbilled hours. On a project of SGD 180,000 to 420,000 (2026 market ballpark), payback usually lands between 12 and 20 months.
The yard before the project: where the margin leaks
The yard in this example, Straits Marine Repair, is an illustrative fictional company, not a real client. It runs one graving dock and one floating dock in the western shipyard cluster and handles coastal tankers, supply vessels, tugs and harbour craft. Planning lives in a shared spreadsheet, variation orders are signed on paper and most of the hot work, blasting and painting is done by subcontractor crews.
| Indicator | Before the project (2026 ballpark) | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Vessels handled per year | 80 to 150 | Dock slots booked by phone and email |
| Idle dock days between vessels | 10 to 18 % of the year | Lost revenue on the most expensive asset |
| Subcontractor hours not rebilled | 12 to 25 % | Extra work done before owner approval |
| Gap between quote and final invoice | 15 to 35 % | Disputes with owners and ship managers |
| Class survey windows tracked manually | 100 % | Risk of a vessel missing its survey date |
| Invoice issued after undocking | 7 to 21 days | Slower cash collection in SGD and USD |
Class survey dates are set by the classification society and by the flag state rules applied by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) for Singapore registered vessels. The software does not replace those rules: it simply makes sure every survey window, every certificate and every dock slot sits in one calendar the commercial team can trust.
What the software covers and what it costs
| Module | Main function | Market budget (2026 ballpark) |
|---|---|---|
| Dock slot planner | Visual calendar for both docks, conflicts flagged | SGD 30,000 to 65,000 |
| Survey and certificate tracker | Class and flag deadlines per vessel, alerts | SGD 15,000 to 35,000 |
| Quotes and variation orders | Job lists, owner approval on tablet | SGD 35,000 to 80,000 |
| Subcontractor timesheets | Hours per crew, per vessel, per job | SGD 25,000 to 60,000 |
| Spares and procurement | Reservations, lead times, supplier tracking | SGD 30,000 to 75,000 |
| Invoicing and management dashboard | Margin per vessel, dock occupancy | SGD 25,000 to 60,000 |
| Data migration and onboarding | Vessel records, rate cards, user setup | SGD 20,000 to 45,000 |
The total ranges from SGD 180,000 to 420,000 depending on scope and integrations with the existing accounting system. As a nearshore benchmark, Kolonell's prices for custom applications are 3,810 to 6,100 EUR (2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA) for a simple app, 6,100 to 10,670 EUR (4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA) for a mid-sized app and 10,670 to 22,870 EUR and more (7,000,000 to 15,000,000 FCFA and more) for a complex one, with Premium maintenance at 183 EUR (120,000 FCFA) per month.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Mei Ling, commercial director of the fictional Straits Marine Repair, runs a graving dock billed at an average SGD 22,000 per dock day including services.
| Item | Before | After 12 months | Estimated annual gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idle dock days | 52 days | 30 days | 22 days x SGD 22,000 = SGD 484,000 of capacity |
| Subcontractor hours not rebilled | 18 % of 60,000 h | 7 % | 6,600 h x SGD 45 = SGD 297,000 |
| Quote to invoice gap disputes | 14 per year | 5 per year | Fewer write offs, faster payment |
| Invoice delay | 14 days | 2 days | Cash in 12 days sooner |
Mei Ling does not count the full capacity gain, because filling extra dock days depends on demand. Taking only half of the rebilled subcontractor hours in year one (about SGD 150,000) against a SGD 260,000 project and SGD 40,000 a year in running costs, payback arrives around month 19, inside the 12 to 20 month range. If even a third of the freed dock days are sold, payback moves under 12 months.
Conditions for the numbers to hold
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The variation order must be approved before extra work starts: the software blocks a new job line until the owner's superintendent signs on the tablet. Subcontractor supervisors must log hours daily, in under 5 minutes per crew. And the dock planner must be the single source of truth, which means sales stops promising slots by email. The project is delivered in 6 to 8 week releases, starting with the dock planner and variation orders, where most of the margin sits.
FAQ
How much does dry dock planning and repair software cost in Singapore?
The 2026 market ballpark is SGD 180,000 to 420,000 for a full scope. A first release limited to the dock planner and variation orders can start around SGD 70,000 to 120,000.
How fast does it pay back?
Most yards see payback between 12 and 20 months. The biggest drivers are idle dock days and unbilled subcontractor hours: above 12 % unbilled, recovered hours alone fund a large share of the project.
Does the software handle MPA and class survey deadlines?
It tracks the dates you enter from the class society and the applicable MPA requirements and sends alerts 30, 60 and 90 days ahead. The rules themselves always come from the official sources, which the yard keeps up to date.
Can it bill in SGD and USD?
Yes, multi currency invoicing is standard configuration, often USD for foreign owners and SGD for local operators. Expect SGD 6,000 to 15,000 for that setup depending on accounting rules.
How long does the project take?
A full rollout takes 6 to 9 months in releases of 6 to 8 weeks. The dock planner can usually go live within 10 weeks.
Let's scope your project. Send us your yearly vessel count, priority modules and indicative budget, and we will quote software split into releases with a realistic timeline. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
