How does a hatch cover work?

Author: Miss Thea Hyatt  |  Last update: Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Hatch covers on bulk carriers have two basic functions: in open position, they provide access to the holds for loading/discharging cargo; and in closed position, they prevent water ingress by sealing the hatchway in a weathertight condition, so that there is no leakage into the cargo hold in any sea condition.

How are hatch covers operated?

Each hatch cover is operated by 1 hydraulic motor via rack and pinion driving system installed in the middle of the port side. All hatches roll open to the port side. The control stands are located at the aft transverse coamings between the hatches.

How will you secure a hatch cover?

Once opened, hatch covers should be secured properly, using the chain stoppers, chocks or other devices recommended by the manufacturers. Hatch openings should be well-illuminated and if there are guard rails and stanchions fitted, these need to be fixed into place.

What are the 3 types of hatch covers?

The various types or hatch covers that are mainly used on board are as follows – Lifting type Rolling type Folding type Sliding type Roll stowing type Lifting type or lift away type hatch covers are generally used on container ships, whereas rolling type are used on bulk carriers (to be specific side-rolling).

What are the precautions in hatch cover operation?

Safe work practices should be always emphasized including:
  • Ensuring hatch covers are secured at all times, whether in an open or closed position, unless they are being operated;
  • Keeping personnel clear of moving or pressurized machinery; and.
  • Safe working at height practices when working near an open hatch cover.

Hatch cover components | Hatch Cleats | funnel2tunnel

What is the main reason why hatch covers leak?

Most leakage problems occur because of poor maintenance. Although robust, hatch covers will leak if compression surfaces are not aligned correctly, if gaskets are damaged or worn, if there are cracks or holes in the plating, or if there is permanent overall distortion of the covers.

Are hatch covers watertight?

They are strong, rigid structures. However, if even a small area of rubber seal is missing or there's an incorrect alignment of just a few millimetres, the covers can be rendered ineffective and lead to extensive water ingress. The financial consequences of such incidents can be great.

What are the advantages of hatch covers?

Hatch covers are designed to keep the cargo dry and prevent water ingress into the holds. They are also responsible for maintaining the structural integrity of the ship's cargo holds.

What are the colors of hatch?

5 Dreamy Colors

Choose from Mint, Honey, Peach, Putty, or Slate.

What are the resting pads of a hatch cover?

Hatch cover bearing pads may be small, but play big part in structural performance. They transfer the weight of the cover, and any cargo it may be carrying, to the ship's hull while allowing for relative movement between the cover and the hatch coaming caused by hull flexing in a seaway.

How do you test the tightness of a hatch cover?

The chalk test is a simple and effective method for testing the tightness of a hatch cover. The hatch cover is closed to perform this test, and chalk is placed on the rubber gasket. The hatch cover is then pressed down, and any gaps in the gasket will result in the chalk being rubbed off.

What are the defects and damages that can occur in a hatch cover?

Physical damage (such as cracks, holes, deformations) occur due to:
  • Stresses caused by twisting, hogging / sagging, coaming deflection, overloading / improper weight spreading, improper adjustment / alignment of the panels.
  • Stevedore damages that may also affect the structural integrity of the hatch cover.

What is stacking hatch cover?

Weather deck covers—stacking hatch covers. Stacking hatch covers are of the multipanel type that can stow at the end of the hatch, but within the opening of the hatch. As an alternative the covers can be moved to any position on the hatch. These covers provide for fully automatic stacking at various locations.

How to secure a hatch cover?

Securing Devices

1 Devices used to secure hatch covers, i.e. bolts, wedges or similar, are to be suitably spaced along the coamings and between cover elements.

What is rubber packing in hatch cover?

Hatch rubber packing seal is typically designed to seal the doors and hatches on ships or vessels, offer watertight functions and increase safety to cargoes on board.

How do you maintain a hatch cover?

Keep coaming tops and double drainage channels in good order. Keep hatch covers and clean coaming tops and double drainage channels after loading bulk cargo through the grain or cement hatches. Always keep wheels, hinges and chain tension equipment well greased.

What's so special about Hatch?

Pros. Hatch Restore works as a sunrise alarm, mimicking the gradual brightness of dawn. When the light hits your lids, your brain is notified that it's morning and time to wake up. The brand is constantly releasing new features and software updates, like a recent Pet channel, to help your furry friends relax.

What are the numbers from the Hatch?

This energy is, partly, what made Lost's island so special. The code the characters needed to enter into the computer to do this was 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, and 42, of course. Locke thought the hatch and the numbers were tied to his destiny and his reason for being on the island.

What are Hatch patterns?

HATCH PATTERNS are used to indicate the types of materials in a device, building, or. property being drawn by the CAD operator/drafter. Hatching can be used to indicate that a section cut through a part has a particular material or attribute. Hatching can also show surface finishes.

What are the three types of hatch covers?

The most common types of hatch covers are folding hatch covers (e.g., for general cargo and handy- size ships), and side rolling hatch covers (e.g., for panamax and cape- size ships), whilst container vessels mainly use lift-away pontoons.

What is a booby hatch in a ship?

noun. Nautical. a small hatch giving access to a ladder from the weather deck of a vessel to the interior of the hull.

What is the rise of floor in a ship?

In a more technical sense, the rise of floor can be defined as the vertical distance above the baseline or the keel line (0 level) to the point that a tangent drawn to the side shell plating on either side intersects the side shell at the maximum beam, usually taken for the section amidships.

What is chalk test?

The chalk test is a simple and effective way to check the sealing of hatch covers. Hatch covers are an essential part of ships, typically bulk carriers, which keep the cargo safe during voyages.

Where do you start washing when commencing cleaning a cargo hold?

Tips for proper cargo hold cleaning

Typical water washing should be conducted from the top down, commencing with the hatchcovers and coamings, moving on to the underdeck area, then the bulkheads and finishing with the bilges.

What is the difference between weather tight and water tight?

In practical terms, the difference between weathertight and watertight is that a weatertight fitting shall withstand water pressure from the outside (be watertight from outside), whilst a watertight fitting shall withstand water pressure from both sides.

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