As more water flooded the boat, the captain threw life preservers to the Suskis.

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"It is a very delicate operation, " says Stefania Giudice, one of the preservers working here.

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By putting ships back into action with minimal transit time, floating dry docks are force preservers and multipliers.

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Of course, many conservatives want to get rid of life preservers altogether.

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To preservers like Ms Giudice, it is more than just a job.

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