Holds drying after washing


Hatch undersides


When it is safe to open the hatches all the hatchcover undersides should be hand washed and fresh water jet washed using the high-pressure fresh water gun. If all the hatchcover undersides were hand cleaned at the discharge port, this operation will be completed very quickly and a high-pressure jet wash may suffice.


All loose scale and any flaking paint from the hatchcover undersides must be removed. All ledges on the hatch undersides must be checked to see that they are clean. All hatch rubbers and centre line drain channels should be clean and clear of any cargo remains or other debris.


Hatch watertight integrity


should be hand cleaned and jet washed as far as one can safely reach, using long handled turks heads. Safety body harnesses and (if required) a bosun’s chair should be used when undertaking this task.


When it is safe to open the hatches, all the hatch coamings should be hand washed using long handled turks heads and jet washed with fresh water using the high-pressure fresh water gun. With the hatch lids open, binoculars should be used to sight the holds for any cargo remains.


To prevent possible condensation in the hold, all the recessed hold eductors (if fitted) must be drained of any water residue, be clean dry and odourless. There is usually a small stainless steel drain plug on the underside of the eductor which can be temporarily removed to allow the eductor water to drain into the bilge area. When the eductor is empty the drain plug must be replaced and secured. The eductor hold plate must be secured with all the securing bolts and duct tape should be used to cover both the securing bolts and recessed lid handles.


Hold bilges should be completely dried out, odourless and in a fully operating condition. The surveyor will usually require to sight one bilge in each hold to ensure that they have been cleaned out correctly.


The tank top must be completely dry and any indentations on the tank top must be wiped dry. The hold should be made completely odourless, by maximising hold ventilation. Two layers of clean hessian cloth should be fitted to the bilge strainer plate to further restrict cargo particles entering the bilge area. Duct tape is used to cover the small gap between the bilge strainer and tank top. The hold hydrant area, if fitted, should be cleaned and dried out. The steel cover refitted and secured in place with all its bolts/screws.


9


To prevent cargo claims due to water ingress, all hatch seals (both longitudinal and transverse), hold access lids and seals around the hatch sides should be chalk marked and water tested using deck wash hoses.


A more accurate method of testing a hatch for leakage is to use ultrasonic equipment. However this is usually completed by shore personnel who are trained in the use of this equipment.


Faulty or suspect sections of hatch rubber should be replaced in their entirety; localised replacement or


Hose testing and ultrasonic hatch testing for leaks


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