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.
At the time of January 2012, the commencement of the dry dock's construction was anticipated to occur in mid-2012, pending council sanction of building plans and the securing of additional capital. By March 2015, the dock's authorization had not been granted: the museum blamed the holdup on the Port of Townsville and other government bodies for their lack of backing for the project and the prolongation of approvals for a seabed site lease, whereas the Port of Townsville argued that the museum had not presented a viable business plan.