As of January 2012, construction of the dry dock was scheduled to begin in mid-2012, pending council approval of building plans and the securing of additional funding. By March 2015, approval for the dock had not been granted: the museum blamed the delays on the Port of Townsville and other government authorities for not supporting the project and delaying approvals for a seabed site lease, while the Port of Townsville claimed that the museum had not put forward a viable business plan.
As of January 2012, the commencement of the dry dock's construction was scheduled to take place in mid-2012, subject to council approval of building plans and additional funding. By March 2015, authorization for the dock had not been granted: the museum attributed the delays to the Port of Townsville and other government authorities for their lack of support for the project and the prolongation of approvals for a seabed site lease, whereas the Port of Townsville claimed that the museum had not submitted a viable business plan.