A Huge Shipment Lost Due To Leaking Hatch Covers

Many goods have been destroyed during voyages on the transport ships. The main reason for all the destruction is the same, leaking hatch covers. Leaks in hatch covers can appear any time and without any warning. Since the hatch covers are made of metal, the highest humidity levels of the ocean clearly make rust appear on the tiniest metal spot which gets exposed to it. There is absolutely no permanent chance of stopping leaks to appear, but they can be treated within time. Since the rough treatment which a transport ship faces every time it is being loaded or unloaded with goods, the protective paint wears off and exposes the metal beneath.

The only way to stop the goods from being destroyed onboard the ship is by the hatch cover maintenance and watertight integrity testing. The test in conducted by the ultrasonic hatch cover tester which is capable to point out even the tiniest hole in the hatch covers or anywhere around it. The test is a simple one and doesn’t take an eternity like the hose test. The generator is turned on and placed inside the cargo hold and sealed by closing the hatch covers. With the help of the receiver, the entire area is scanned and if there is silence during the entire scanning process, it becomes clear that there are no holes in it. As soon as the receiver comes above a hole, the ultrasonic pulse is heard in it and the tester becomes sure that the hole is automatically found.

When the ship’s managers fail to take corrective actions at the right time, water not only damages the goods inside the ship’s cargo holds but also the walls and the floor of the cargo holds. Wherever water reaches, it starts increasing humidity levels. If it comes in contact with any naked metal, it starts rusting it abruptly. Soon the walls and the other areas start catching rust and making holes or creating leaks in the other areas of the ship’s structure. Most probably the easily affected areas are the pivots such as joints and hinges. As they are constantly under use the protective paint rips or cracks away very soon.

Many a times water has been seen flowing inside the passenger or the crew compartments especially when the ship is caught in a violent storm. Not only then it has to face the rain falling from above, but the high tide also manages to throw a lot of water on the ship with ferocity. In that case the weak points give way and the water manages to get inside the compartments without any hindrance. Now if the ship is being checked regularly for watertight compartment doors testing, these weak spots are automatically unearthed and the necessary steps can be taken without facing the agony in a storm.