HATCHecker - Ship Hatch Tightness Testing

Overview

HATCHecker is an ultrasound detector built specifically for hatch cover tightness testing on ships. Where hatch integrity matters, HATCHecker delivers fast, accurate diagnostics.

The hatch-tightness problem

Risks of leaking hatches

Leaking ship hatches lead to:

• Cargo damage — water ingress damages cargo in the holds
• Corrosion — the hull structure deteriorates
• Capsizing risk — loss of stability from cargo shift
• Penalties — demurrage and charterer claims
• Insurance refusals — insurers decline to pay

International standards

Hatch inspection is mandatory under:

• IMO — International Maritime Organization
• Class societies — LR, DNV, ABS, Bureau Veritas
• Cargo owners — consignee requirements

Testing methodology

Ultrasonic hatch-tightness test

The ultrasound-based method:

1. An ultrasonic emitter is placed inside the hold
2. HATCHecker scans the hatch from above
3. Leaks are detected by ultrasound leakage through gaps
4. A report documents the results

Method comparison

Method	Time	Accuracy	Safety
Hose test (water)	6-12 hours	Low	Fall risk
Chalk test (chemical)	4-8 hours	Medium	Hazardous substances
Ultrasound	1-2 hours	High	Safe

Testing procedure

Preparation

1. Clean the hatch seals
2. Close and dog down the hatch
3. Place the ultrasonic emitter inside the hold
4. Switch on HATCHecker

Scanning

1. Scan the perimeter of the hatch
2. Check the seals along their full length
3. Check the cross seals
4. Scan the panel joints

Evaluating results

• Tight — no ultrasound leakage detected
• Micro-leaks — maintenance required
• Leaks — immediate repair required

Applications

Vessel types

• General cargo ships — break-bulk cargo
• Bulk carriers — bulk cargo (grain, ore)
• Container ships — moisture-damage risk
• River vessels — barges and tugs
• Tankers — after washing and inspection

Inspection scenarios

• Before loading — pre-loading inspection
• After repair — quality control
• Port State Control — PSC inspections
• Insurance inspection — insurer requirements
• Charterer requirements — charterer-mandated checks

Advantages

Focused

• Single purpose — ship hatches
• Optimised for maritime conditions
• Specialised software

Simple

• No expert training required
• Fast crew onboarding
• Clear, unambiguous results

Affordable

• Lower cost than a hose test
• Saves port time
• Prevents claims

Economic impact

Cost of leaking hatches

• Cargo damage — thousands to millions of dollars
• Penalties — demurrage and delays
• Repairs — replacing corroded structures
• Reputation — loss of customers

ROI

• Pays for itself in a single inspection
• Preventing one claim covers the full cost
• Saves port time

Certification

Training

SDT offers certification:

• Sherlog ultrasonic hatch-tightness testing certification
• Crew training
• Standards compliance

Reporting

• SHERLOG Reporter software
• PDF reports for documentation
• Compliance with class society requirements

Firmware update

SDT Updater process

1. Download the SDT Updater software
2. Connect HATCHecker via USB
3. Run the update
4. Get the streaming screen

Streaming screen

• Real-time histogram
• Leak visualisation
• Results documentation

Checker Range

HATCHecker is part of the Checker series:

• LEAKChecker — air leaks
• LUBEChecker — bearing lubrication
• TRAPChecker — steam traps
• TIGHTChecker — general tightness
• HATCHecker — ship hatches (specialised)
• ULTRAChecker — universal detector

A complete solution

For shipping companies

1. HATCHecker on every vessel
2. Crew training and certification
3. Regular testing before loading
4. Documentation with SHERLOG Reporter

For marine surveyors

1. HATCHecker — a fast testing tool
2. SHERLOG Reporter — professional reports
3. Certification — proof of qualification
4. Compliance — IMO and class standards