Maintenance warning for cargo hatch covers
The Tokyo MOU concentrated inspection campaign on structural safety and load lines late last year has shown that cargo hatch opening are a major concern, writes Wendy Laursen. Serious deficiencies were found that could be the result of poor design, improper cargo operations or inadequate maintenance and repair.
“We cut corners on maintenance at our peril,” says Peter Peltenburg, group director at hatch manufacturer, Cargo Care Solutions. “As the economic downturn bites, the industry has seen a shift to lower quality products and a less systematic approach to scheduled maintenance. This is false economy, and the results of this concentrated inspection campaign show that shipowners are ultimately paying for these short cuts.”
Approximately a third of all P&I claims are cargo related, says Mr Peltenburg, many related to seawater ingress via the hatch covers of dry cargo vessels. Hatch covers leak for a variety of reasons, but mainly because of poor maintenance or failure to close them properly. Leaking or badly maintained hatch covers can lead to more serious consequences than wet cargo – flooding, accelerated corrosion or even loss of the ship.
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