Exterior Ship's Tour : U.S.S. Voyager
STANDARD STARFLEET DOCKING PORT

The standard Starfleet docking system was developed by Chiokis Starship Construction Corporation, was adopted by Starfleet in 2211 and is in use on all Federation major vessels and shuttlecraft. It was designed to free large hangar decks from V.I.P., personnel and small cargo transfers, because they were so frequent that it taxed the lifespans of the hangar pressurisation and depressurisation systems. In addition, the docking port enabled supply layover time to be reduced and boarding personnel can reach their shipboard destinations more quickly, although in [Parallax], despite the need to reach the bridge quickly, Janeway's shuttlecraft landed in the shuttlebay.

Externally each docking port has a refuelling system for Federation travel pods and shuttlecraft. EVA (stands for "extra-vehicular activity") handgrips and docking lights surround the exterior port. An auto-dock system surrounding the docking port ensures first-time success in docking. Once the ring latches are securely fastened, a mechanism within the starship opens the shuttlecraft doors so that personnel can alight.

Above information and picture to the left is mainly from 'Mr Scott's Guide to the Enterprise [1701-A]' ISBN 0-671-70498-2.

docking doors partly open; see description below the next picture

docking doors open; in this episode, [#68 and #69 Scorpion], Chakotay orders cargo bay 2 depressurised and, with doors open, Borg drones are expelled into space; after the decompression cycle is complete, however, it is learned that one Borg drone survived

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