Putting the vessel in dock is to be the right thing (8)

I believe the answer is:

berthing

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'putting the vessel in dock is' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'be the right thing' is the wordplay.
'the right' becomes 'r' (common abbreviation).
'be'+'r'+'thing'='BERTHING'

'to' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for berthing that I've seen before include "Coming into dock" , "Tying up a boat at a dock" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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