The use of the maritime industry is
growing more with every passing day. Since a new factory is opening its
doors for customers on a daily basis, the new line of products are being
shipped to the other countries. The number of shipping ships actively
working today is not in hundreds or thousands any more, but it can be
now counted in millions. Increasing the number of ships although is
important, but the need for ships that are faultless is also very much
required. The goods that are being parceled need to reach the other end
in the best possible condition. If they fail to be as good when loaded,
the damages will have to be paid by the shipping company to the client.
The first and foremost step taken towards making a ship leak free is the test known as
tightness of hatch with ultrasound.
This test is the first step that will make the ship leak free. When a
ship has served its masters for at least a year, it receives multiple
damages and demands repairs. Due to the scraping, scratching, bumping
and other forms of wear and tear, the protective paint peels off. As the
layers of paint are peeled off, the steel body underneath gets exposed
to the air which is the highest in humidity. As a result of the
humidity, the body starts rusting and it is no addition to anyone’s
updated knowledge that rust starts eating the steel layer by layer. As a
result we find a hole in its place.
The ship’s body and the
hatch covers not receive a single hole at a time, but it is a series of
holes that emerge. As a result when the damage becomes unavoidable, the
cargo holds start filling with dampness and water during the voyages.
Since water has no bounds when it enters the cargo holds, anything and
everything that comes within its reach gets wet. We all know how bad it
is for the goods to get wet during a voyage because the moment it
reaches the client, there is no reaction other than shock and fury over
the loss. The matter is automatically filed as a claim against damage
and the shipping company’s negligence, and at the end after a series of
paperwork and investigation; the shipping companies have to pay to the
client. To avoid this entire long story, the shipping companies are
urged to pay attention and run a
hatch cover ultrasonic tightness testing procedure before commencing a voyage.