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tical Ways to Cut i | li ib re in’ Carqo Handling | if Conducted by H.E.STOCKER iy Y b Ap = AG MV / ers, Steel Hatch Covers for Greater Sa ety and Reduced Operating Cost question of hatch openings and their covers has been discussed by naval architects, by experts and by societies interested in shipping and in shipping problems. One gov- ernment at present is investigating the advisability of public regulations covering adequate hatch covers. The importance of the subject is begin- ning to be realized. In general, the larger the hatch opening the more advantageous it becomes, but it is obvious for struc- tural reasons that when the hatch openings exceed a certain size, a more suitable and a stronger cover must be provided than the one gen- erally found in use today, which con- sists of three inch planks laid on heavy steel strongbacks. D ws the last two years the 84 By Capt. K. Tvede and H. E. Stocker In this connection it may be worth while to follow briefly the develop- ments of the hatch and its covers. In looking over shipping registered we find steamers built during the years of 1905-6-7 with hatches almost the full length of the working decks. During the same period we also find ships built for the same trade with hatch areas of about 10 to 20 per cent of the deck area. We can find trampships built abroad 25 years ago which have larger hatch openings than the ships built today. The rec- ords indicate that there has been no systematic development of number and sizes of hatch openings, that rather the number and sizes of open- ings depended largely on individual opinion, ships built for special trades excepted. AUUUULUUTANULUEOUOUUUTUOUU UTE This illustration shows the slow and dangerous work which it would be well to eliminate by the use of steel hatch covers CLIDTTUQQUUUOOUUUUUONENUUOCUTUULL ELTA MARINE REviEw-—April, 1931 The first hatch covers used in or- dinary tramp ships consisted of planks three inches thick cut in suit- able lengths and widths and placed atwartship, supported by the neces- sary number of cross beams and longitudinal beams placed between the cross beams. These longitudinal beams were often of wood. Later this type of cover was improved by plac- ing the hatch planks longitudinally and doubling the number of cross beams. This eliminated the longitu- dinal beams. This is not a satis- factory cover for a number of reasons principally from the standpoint of safety and quick handling, yet this cover is the cover used on practical- ly 99 per cent of the world’s fleet today. The general trend is toward larger hatch openings in both tramp ships and cargo liners. The advisability of large hatch openings is so obvious and the savings so great in reduced stevedoring costs, reduced claims, great safety and quicker turn around of ship, that it is surprising that larger hatch openings and adequate covers have not been given greater consideration before. The last year or two steel hatch covers have gained greater recogni tion. Several steel hatch covers have been brought on the market during this time. Recent disasters at sea have led to a further investigation of hatch covers which has’ resulted in the recommendation of hatch covers of @