The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word QUAYS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
Q
U
A
Y
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Where ships are docked" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case where ships are docked = quays.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does QUAYS mean?
QUAYS noun- A stone or concrete structure on navigable water used for loading and unloading vessels; a wharf.