Hatch Cover Repair & Tightness
Cargo damage claims can wipe out an entire voyage’s profit, and leaking hatch covers are the single biggest contributor. Ship’s Solutions has therefore developed a specialised field team dedicated solely to hatch-cover integrity. Our process starts with laser deflection gauges to measure panel sag and coaming distortion. These readings feed a finite-element model that forecasts how the cover will behave under green-sea loads, giving owners data-backed justification for renewal or repair. We then strip existing rubber packings, blast clean the retaining channels, fit EPDM or NBR gaskets moulded to new radii, and set compression values using calibrated feeler strips. Cleats and wedges are re-machined or replaced, and hydraulic-cylinder seals are swapped with OEM kits. Every grease nipple is flushed and purged, and a food-grade lubricant is applied so maintenance intervals align with charter cycles.
But good hardware alone does not guarantee tightness, which is why we employ ultrasonic testing at multiple compression stages—pre-load, mid-stroke, and final locking—to validate continuous line contact across the entire perimeter. The ultrasonic signal pinpoints micro-gaps invisible to chalk tests, allowing spot shimming that prevents water tracks from forming in heavy seas. If the vessel trades in heavy-weather routes, we install load-sensing pins and Wi-Fi data loggers that feed real-time compression values to the bridge, giving crews actionable intelligence during hatch-cover closure and locking.
Proactive Life-Cycle Management
Documentation is just as rigorous as the physical work. We issue a class-ready report containing as-found and as-left ultrasonic readings, torque values for every fastener, and a remaining life estimate for rubber seals based on polymer hardness tests. This living record slots neatly into the ship’s Planned Maintenance System and satisfies vetting inspectors from OCIMF, RightShip, and port-state control. For owners who desire predictive maintenance, we offer an annual subscription in which our technicians analyse exposure to UV, ozone, and shear force, and schedule intervention before a drip becomes a deluge.
The payoff is measurable: reduced cargo claims, shorter port stays, and improved audit scores. Over the last three years, Ship’s Solutions has refurbished more than 900 hatch panels on bulk carriers and general cargo vessels, achieving an industry-leading post-repair leak-free rate of 99.7 percent. By combining precision measurement, certified materials, and data-driven validation, we make watertightness a provable metric rather than a hopeful assumption.