Bulk carrier owners are warned to pay extra attention to the basics in a new report issued by The Swedish Club. The Club has found that for bulk carrier operators, wet damage is the most costly claim type and the second most common claim that they experience.

The report, Wet Damage on Bulk Carriers, which has been prepared in conjunction with DNV GL, and MacGregor, identifies heavy weather and leaking hatch covers as both the most common and the most costly type of wet damage claim. With the average cost for a wet damage cargo claim running at almost USD 110,000, this is sobering news.

Whilst weather routeing is used to minimise the effects of heavy weather, green sea on deck should be a surprise to no-one, and it is not unusual for cargo hatch covers to be fully immersed in sea water. Incorrectly applied and poorly maintained cargo hatch covers and sealing systems significantly increase the risk of cargo becoming damaged by water. Case studies have revealed that many of these claims could be avoided, with hatch components in poor repair, and applications of tape and seal-foam proving no substitute for good maintenance.

“Hatches leak for a variety of reasons, but mainly because of poor maintenance or failure to close them properly,“ explains Lars A. Malm, Director, Strategic Business Development & Client Relations. “Leaking or badly maintained hatch covers can lead to more serious consequences than wet cargo – flooding, accelerated corrosion or even loss of the ship.”

The most common wet cargo issues include leaking cross joints, and compression bars, rubber gaskets, hatch coamings, drain channels and cleats in poor condition.

Wet Damage on Bulk Carriers offers practical advice on how to avoid these pitfalls, providing simple checklists and explanations of the routine tasks that can be carried out as part of a vessel’s PMS. Proper maintenance will save money and improve safety on board.

For your copy of Wet Damage on Bulk Carriers please visit www.swedishclub.com

Click here to download the press release in pdf.format»

For further information please contact: Debra Massey +44 (0) 1296 682356

Notes to Editors:
The Swedish Club was founded by shipowners in 1872 and is today a leading and diversified mutual marine insurance company, owned and controlled by its members. The Club writes Protection & Indemnity, Freight, Demurrage & Defence, Hull & Machinery, Hull Interests, Loss of Hire, War Risks, and any additional insurances required by shipowners or charterers. It also writes Hull & Machinery, War risks and Loss of Hire for Mobile Offshore Units and FPSOs.

Its head office is located in Gothenburg, Sweden, with branch offices in Piraeus, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Oslo and London.