Protecting the Catch

Whale hunting is known to be the oldest sport or trade for sailors because of the huge amount of meat they get from a single catch. Although it is now banned due to the rapidly decreasing population of the whales it is feared they would soon be extinct if it is not stopped hunting now. But catching the other kinds of fish is still on the rise because a fish caught directly from the ocean can never be matched with the fish that is bred in a fish farm. Since this fishing type involves spending a lot of time out in the ocean, it is very dangerous and has taken a huge count of precious lives.

The ships that are often out in the ocean for hunting huge shoals of fish are of a special design. They have a fairly huge compartment which can hold all the fish they catch and can make it to the shore without rotting the fish. The biggest reason a huge catch may go unprofitable is the leaks in the ship’s body. When the ocean’s water enters the holds where the catch is stored, the fish starts rotting and it can quickly build up a huge stench clearly indicates that the fish wouldn’t pt purchased by the customers and it would all be wasted.

To make sure that the hard work and risk taking isn’t wasted, the ship owners need to ensure that their ship’s hatch covers are completely leak free and air tight. It is extremely necessary to check tightness of hatch with ultrasound after arriving from a voyage. The harsh conditions that a ship faces at the hands of the cruel ocean clearly creates many gaps in the ship’s body which although cannot be analyzed by the human eye, but they are present and are enough to cause a great harm. In many cases the loose hatch covers have burst open revealing the entire hold to the lashing waves and the heavily pouring rain. This case has caused thousands of tons of fish to be wasted every year.

The hatch cover ultrasonic tightness testing is not lengthy task and it can be preformed even in a hurry. But performing in a hurry wouldn’t be a good idea because there wouldn’t be time for repairs when you are already in a hurry. When the ship returns from a voyage there is time for a day or two or even more until the next voyage begins. When there is enough time available it is best to perform the test and mark all the areas that have been opened up. Have all the necessary repairs done and you’ll have a less hectic time protecting the catch.