The biggest problem being faced by the maritime industry is to keep their ratty ships sailable. Customer’s goods need to be protected from the humid air and the water that manages to find its way in the cargo holds. But the worn out condition of the ships that have served for too long now cause more damage than profits. Their hatch covers look less like covers and more of a net because of the infinite holes in them and on the body around them. Sending goods in such a ship is no less than career suicide because it is guaranteed that the claims for damages would exceed the profit margins. Owning such ships would only end up the owner to pack it in.

The best strategy to earn profits long term is to stay in business, but one cannot stay in business for long with leaking ships. Although most of the ship owners start with new and mighty ships to awe their competitors, but when they ignore the testing tightness of hatch with ultrasound, doom looms over their fate. Since the highly humid air of the seas and oceans can rust the strongest metal within no time, the preventive action should be taken immediately. As soon as the paint gets peeled off, a fresh coat should be applied at once to cover the metal that has been revealed beneath.

When loading and unloading the goods in the cargo holds, the heavy boxes and the chains scrape the body and the hatch covers. The scraping results in the paints to peel off and uncover the metal of the ship’s body. Since the scratches appear as minor to the human eye, the staff ignores it as a part of the wear and tear. But the humidity present in the air causes the metal to react and catch rust which starts spreading with time and after a few months, the ship looks more like a rust bucket.

When the damage has already been done, the repair work becomes very costly. While it is a fact that no one can keep painting every scratch as it appears, but the holes should be repaired while they are still minute. Big holes need the metal sheet to be replaced which costs a fortune. The hatch cover ultrasonic tightness testing points out the minute holes which can be easily repaired. It is urged to the ship owners to push their staff to mend the holes while they are still harmless.