Lloyd's Register and The Standard P&I Club have jointly produced a booklet on hatch cover safety. This publication, 'A Master's Guide to Hatch Cover Maintenance', is primarily designed to assist members of the crew with the safe operation and maintenance of large hatch covers. It is currently being distributed to owners and operators of all Lloyd's Register classed ships that have large hatch covers, for placing on board.
The guide provides extensive information concerning many aspects of hatch cover operation and maintenance and contains sections covering:
- hatch covers, their function and basic advice
- common false beliefs about hatch covers
- leakage problems and leak detection tests
- monitoring, inspection, maintenance and repair
- heavy weather precautions
- safety when working with hatch covers.
In addition, two appendices show procedures to open and close hatch covers, and include a check sheet to assist crew members when carrying out hatch cover condition assessments.