We are proud to announce the expansion of our inspection portfolio. We are introducing the modern, non-invasive Cargo-Safe™ ultrasonic technology, revolutionizing the way vessel watertightness is verified and protecting cargo from water ingress.

In the global supply chain, hatch covers and watertight doors have only one job: to absolutely protect cargo from the destructive force of seawater. While these massive steel structures on deck look solid, the safety of cargo worth millions of dollars depends on just a few centimeters of rubber packing.

Skipping a professional tightness test before setting sail is not a cost-saving measure – it is pure gamble. Below, we outline how a seemingly minor oversight triggers a catastrophic chain of events that directly devastates the budget of shipowners, charterers, and shippers.

The Business Chain of Consequences: How a Small Leak Destroys a Great Business

In maritime transport, there is no room for assumptions when it comes to hatch cover tightness. Bypassing a reliable watertightness verification before a voyage can set off a disastrous operational and financial scenario:

• Undetected Hatch Cover Leak: A worn gasket, distorted hatch cover, corroded drain channel, or improperly adjusted closing mechanism can compromise weathertight integrity. Such defects are impossible to identify during routine visual inspections.

• Voyage in Heavy Weather: The vessel encounters rough sea conditions, heavy weather, and regular waves washing over the deck. Simultaneously, the vessel's structure is subjected to significant dynamic stresses caused by hull movement.

• Water Ingress into the Cargo Hold: If the hatch covers are not fully weathertight, seawater easily forces its way past the compromised, uncompressed seal and penetrates the cargo spaces.

• Damage to the Cargo: The cargo hold is flooded. Steel and metallurgical products corrode, grain and feed products suffer biological contamination and lose commercial value, while electronics or paper are rendered entirely worthless.

• Cargo Claims and Operational Costs: Once cargo damage is discovered, the receiver files massive, multi-thousand-dollar claims. On top of compensation, the shipowner faces survey costs, legal fees, and severe vessel delays.

• Difficulties in Demonstrating Due Diligence: Lacking an official tightness certificate, the P&I Club rejects the claim, citing the carrier's failure to exercise due diligence (lack of due diligence).

• Loss of Market Confidence: Repeated cargo damage incidents destroy the shipowner's reputation, leading to the vessel being blacklisted by charterers, loss of key clients, and crippling downtime in ports.

Why Ultrasonic Testing Replaces Traditional Methods

For decades, the default port standard was hose testing, which involved spraying hatch covers with high-pressure water. Today, this method is obsolete, risky, and environmentally unfriendly:

• Risk of damage: Hose testing on a loaded vessel (carrying moisture-sensitive cargo like grain or paper) risks damaging the cargo even before the ship leaves port.

• Weather limitations: It cannot be performed in sub-zero temperatures (below 0∘C) due to the risk of deck icing and safety hazards.

• Lack of precision: Hose testing only reveals if there is a leak, but cannot pinpoint its exact location or the scale of seal compression loss.

Cargo-Safe™: The 21st Century Standard at Baltic Control®

Our new service utilizes the advanced, certified Cargo-Safe™ ultrasonic system, which holds a prestigious Type Approved certificate from Lloyd's Register.

The device generates directional 40 kHz ultrasonic waves inside the closed hold. Armed with a sensitive receiver on deck, our inspector locates even millimeter-sized gaps in rubber packings with surgical precision—without using a single drop of water.

The test can be carried out in freezing temperatures, with a fully or partially loaded hold, causing zero operational delays or port disruptions.

Where and What Do We Inspect?

Our services using the Cargo-Safe™ system cover full verification of watertight structural elements in key logistical hubs:

• Vessel cargo holds: Bulk carriers, container ships, general cargo vessels.

• Other watertight elements: Watertight doors, ramp doors on Ro-Ro vessels, side/stern shell doors, access hatches, and skylights.

• Land transport and storage: Marine and reefer containers, railway wagons, storage tanks, and land-based silos.

What Does Your Business Gain with Baltic Control®?

• Cargo safety guarantee: Complete assurance that the cargo will arrive at the destination port in pristine condition.

• Official insurance certificate: Our technical reports are fully accepted by P&I Clubs as undeniable proof of due diligence.

• Maximum operational speed: The test is performed by a single inspector in a fraction of the time required for traditional hose testing. No delays, no water waste, and a completely eco-friendly process.

Do not risk massive cargo claims on the high seas. Protect your cargo and your business with the experts at Baltic Control®.

Contact us to schedule an inspection:

📞 +48 602 745 045, +48 887 487 648, +48 725 520 822
📧 lel@balticcontrol.com, jgo@balticcontrol.com, luwa@balticcontrol.com