Hatch survey

A hatch survey is an inspection of a ship’s hatch covers and coamings to confirm they are weathertight before loading and sailing. The surveyor checks the rubber gaskets, compression bars, cleats, drainage channels, and cross-joints, often by hose test, chalk test, or ultrasonic tightness testing, the last giving a measured leakage reading. Watertight hatches protect cargo from sea water and rain, and a recorded defect supports an owner’s defense against a wet-damage cargo claim. P&I clubs and pre-loading surveys treat hatch tightness as a primary cause of bulk cargo claims.