Over 40% of all P&I claims are due to damaged cargo caused by water ingress via the hatch covers. This represents more than USD 40 millions of damaged cargo yearly.
The main cause of cargo damage is non-watertight hatch covers. Cargo damage due to water ingress from hatch covers remain an important part of insurance claims.
This is the reason; Insurers and Clubs require vessels to maintain hatch covers in a waterproof condition. It is also the statutory requirement for as in the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966.
There are different methods for testing hatch covers:
- Ultrasonic Testing
- Chalk test
- Air test
- Water hose test.
The Ultrasonic test is the only method that generate systematic and objective results, to determine if the hatch conditions are acceptable or not.
Using just a sound transmitter inside the cargo hold and a detector outside, 24 Marine can detect ultrasonic waves coming from the cargo hold. The hatch cover is closed, fully cleated, and battened. The operator then uses the hand-held detector to listen for the ultrasonic waves from the outside, picking up all sounds that pass through the sealing arrangements, vents or cracks.
Before starting the test, our SMART SURVEORS calibrates the receiver for Open Hatch Sound Value (OHV). Then when performing the test, it recommended to use the 10% benchmark.
- If the sound levels are higher than 10% of the OHV, the seal is not acceptable.
- If the sound levels received is less than 10%, the hatch covers are in a weathertight condition.