The shipyard had three graving docks, and five industrial piers. The DND graving dock is operated by Washington Marine Group as Victoria Shipyards Inc. The shipyard at the graving docks closed in 2001. A marine engineering shop was built between the two graving docks. Originally, Hunters Point was a commercial shipyard established in 1870, consisting of two graving docks. A graving dock is the traditional form of dry dock. The lock and graving dock were operational by 1875. It is built upon and around an old graving dock. A graving dock was provided parallel to the lock. The upper graving dock remained in use until closure. In the late 1920s, the larger Esquimalt graving dock was completed. There is a very early complete graving dock in what was Hancock's Yard. From 1887 through 1927 the graving dock averaged work on 21 vessels per year. Construction of the graving dock began in late 2013 and was finished in early 2015. Even older than the sheathing methods were the various graving and paying techniques.