Pre-Charter inspections
Chartering a ship is a complex activity as it involves potential financial risks. We offer a highly-skilled professional evaluation to help minimize the risk exposure.
The risk increases exponentially when ships are chartered on a long term basis. Companies require a detailed assessment of the vessel maintenance and condition before deciding to charter the vessel. Poor maintenance may expose businesses to unwanted delays due to technical failures thus leading to financial losses.
The key areas where we focus on for Pre-charter Inspections are:
Vessel structural strength.
Vessel suitability and compliance with international & local regulations
Condition of ship equipment and machinery.
Crew competencies.
Emergency preparedness on-board.
One important part of Pre-Charter survey for bulk carriers and general cargo vessels is verification of weather tightness of cargo holds.
Cargo damage due to water ingress through leaking hatch covers remain an important part of cargo claims. Non-weathertight hatch covers are the main cause of wet cargo damage. Therefore, P&I clubs require vessels to always maintain hatch covers in a weathertight condition.
On the same time The International Convention on Load Lines (ICLL) also states that “the vessel’s hatch covers need to be weathertight”. This means that in any sea conditions, water should not enter the ships hold, as this would add additional weight to the vessel and could lead to overloading (submerging of the loadline) which would put the ship in danger. For this reason, and under the ICLL, it is a prerequisite that the ship’s hatch covers are weathertight in order to prevent water entry into the ship’s holds.
Cargo Safe from Class Instrumentation Ltd on Vimeo.
In our continuous commitment to the safety and efficiency of maritime operations, we are thrilled to announce the acquisition of our latest technological addition – the hatch cover ultrasonic testing equipment, Cargo-Safe, from Class Instrumentation. This revolutionary equipment marks a significant milestone in our dedication to maintaining the highest industry standards and ensuring the protection of both crew and cargo.
Consultancy
Satisfied Service
Qualified assistance
Benefits of Service
At the customer’s request, we can carry out only the Ultrasonic tightness test and visual inspection to verify the real condition hatch covers.
Reports issued immediately after the completion of the inspection will provide the client with valuable information that will help him in making the best decision.
Whilst hose tests give an idea of the physical contact between a packing rubber and its compression bar/mating surface, ultrasonic tests give an idea of areas where the compression of the sealing system is compromised. Physical contact and compression are two different things and consequently the test results of hose tests and ultrasonic tests cannot be compared in practice.
Ultrasonic testing allows hatch covers to be tested in a static condition in port but allows the operator to form an opinion as to whether or not the hatch-cover sealing system will perform well when the ship is at sea in a dynamic condition.
This is a major advantage when compared to the hose test and can be a very important tool when exercising due diligence to determine if a ship is cargoworthy and if hatch covers are weathertight.
The use of ultrasonic testing equipment has many benefits, including the following.:
– Can safely be used under all weather conditions (even with sub-zero temperatures).
– Can be used in loaded or empty holds, which in certain cases allows repairs to covers during loading and checking of repairs during or after the loading period, but prior to going to sea.
– Is a quick and easy means of testing, and no assistance from the ship’s crew is required other than for supervision and safety.
– Allows easy detection with pin-point accuracy of damaged areas or areas where lack of compression exists. This significantly reduces the time needed to identify potential leaks.
Cargo-Safe - Ultrasonic Hatch Cover Tester
