Watertight & Weathertight Integrity

Question 1

Hatch covers

Answer 1

Cargo hatches need to be designed to ensure water cannot penetrate in any sea condition and have to be weathertight. Deficient items can include wasted covers/ventilation closures, wasted or loose gaskets, wasted compression bar, and missing dogs.

Question 2

Closures

Answer 2

Examine closures, ventilation inlets/exhaust, to ensure they are watertight or weathertight, depending on their location. In addition, ensure closures for spaces protected by fixed gas firefighting systems are capable of being closed from outside the protected space. Deficient items could include wasted closures, wasted or loose gaskets, and missing dogs.

Question 3

Scuttles

Answer 3

Ensure side scuttles, or windows, to spaces below the freeboard deck or to spaces within the superstructure, are fitted with hinged closures that can be closed and secured watertight.

Question 4

Watertight doors/ramps

Answer 4

Ensure watertight doors have indicators showing their position (open or closed) on the navigation bridge, if applicable. Ensure doors are labeled stating they are not to be left open at sea. Examine the doors/ramps as you would any other watertight/weathertight opening. Clear grounds would allow the examiner to conduct a chalk test, or other testing method, to ascertain whether or not the door/ramp closes as designed.

Question 5

Tank Vent and Ventilation System

Answer 5

While examining ventilation systems, verify:

• Natural ventilation: Constructed of steel or equivalent material and able to be secured in the closed position.
• Mechanical ventilation: Ensure the equipment is operational and that guards cover moving parts. Remote controls are located outside the space; a requirement of International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code, dependent on the cargo.
• Tank vents, to include cargo ballast and fuel, are used to prevent overpressurization. Ensure they are materially sound and spot-check the operation of the closing device. Field personnel are seeing more ships with installed pressure/vacuum valves on their heavy weather ballast tank – typically the center tank - #4 cargo hold – to prevent implosion or explosion during ballast operations. This is a secondary safety method to control pressure in the tank and is not required. However, it needs to be inspected if the crew relies on it as a safety device.