A dry cargo cruise is a kind of holder or mass transporter having a few load holds or spaces where it can suit the payload. All load holds in such ships are furnished with a solid fabricated top, which is known as hatch covers.

What is the Usage of Hatch Cover?
Cargoes and products compartments are managed with specific hatch covers to keep the contact of freight with external environment such as air, dampness, climate and water and to stay away from load from getting wet. Another imperative duty of hatch cover is to keep up the watertight trustworthiness of the ship at all maritime condition by not permitting any entrance of water or external component inside the compartments of cargo and cause any damage to the steadiness of the ship by unbalancing. Before you are ready to leave, make sure you have carried out ultrasonic hatch cover testing.

Maintenance Requirement for Hatch Covers
Hatch covers of cargo holders are by and large produced using high flexible steel or lightweight steel. They are fixed over a steel bar of the specific cargo hold with elastic pressing entrenched in the middle of them to keep away from water entrance or any other component. A particular routine support to be functioned by responsible officer from the crew on ship is highly suggested, which must majorly includes:

• Hatch cover testing for any splits, corrosions, breakage and material issues
• Keep tops tidy of hatch covers and all waste openings to be kept clear
• Keep hauling wire, rollers, chains, cleats and wedges in operational condition round the clock
• Look for any missing gasket or broken and supplant it quickly whereas the length of restored gasket must be least 1 m
• Before restoring elastic gasket, check and amend steel to steel blame
• Gasket elastic to be of endorsed sort by class
• Do not forget to grease or oil all the moving parts
• Check for any pressure driven framework spillage if cover is functioned by oil
• Oil test to be performed for water driven system
• Call surveyor after any significant repair in the cover and its concerned areas

Significance of Hatch Cover Testing
It is really important to possess hatch cover tester to carry out the test before setting off for the journey. It is convenient to fix up all the things before you leave as it gives you better space and time to cater any emergency or broken parts / things. Moreover, this test allows you to increase your efficiency and gain the trust of clients for further reliability and business.