200628 Poor Hatch Seals

I joined a vessel as chief officer and on taking a round of the vessel, I noticed that the rubber packing was missing altogether for a length of two to three inches in two places. The signing-off mate did not give me a satisfactory explanation for it, and accordingly I informed the master (who had joined three days before me) about my reluctance to take over from the old mate. The master said that since we had new packing with us we could change it and hence I took over.

The immediate renewal of the rubber packing was started. I briefed the bosun and the crew involved about the correct procedure for changing it and particularly made them cut a longer length than the previous packing, while of course I also supervised this renewal.

After about a week of renewal I again noticed that the packing was short and immediately suspected that the length of the new packing was not adequate. Again packing was renewed and this time I personally did the renewal. Again after a week the packing became short. I immediately informed my company that the new packing on board was of inferior quality and asked for new packing. This new packing gave no further problems.

I have twice been on vessels in which no specifications of the corner/end pieces were given in the hatch cover manual. On both occasions the company could not arrange the correct specs through the manufacturer and I had to draw sketches and fax them to office. Luckily both times the company managed to arrange the correct pieces.

What I want to emphasise is that the hatch cover manual must give complete sketches of the end/corner pieces and just the part number is not enough. This must be emphasised by class. And these components must be purchased only from manufacturer or from reputable companies.

If cargo gets damaged due to rubber packing problems, who will be blamed? The vessel and the company should not be blamed if they are trying hard to obtain the spares but...

There have also been many times where I have noticed that at least one non-return drain valve on hatch coaming has been blocked and I have also noticed blocked drain channels; these will surely lead to water going into holds. Proper rubber packing and hose testing is not enough and I as a master personally check all the drain channels and non-return drain valves on hatch coamings every three months to feel confident about my hatch covers.