Belships Management, Singapore is a valued customer of Coltraco Ultrasonics and we are thrilled and grateful to receive such excellent feedback and images from recent testing. Belships protect their Fleet of Bulk Carriers against water ingress with the market-leading ABS Type Approved Portascanner® WATERTIGHT.
With thanks to Belships for providing the below feedback:
“The Coltraco Ultrasonics Porta scanner has well-protected shipowner and operator against expensive cargo claim and delays in cargo loading due to hatch cover leakage/cargo pre-loading inspection etc.”- Belships Management, Singapore.
Water Ingress
Water ingress can pose significant risks to cargo during transportation resulting in potential damage and financial losses. It occurs when moisture enters containers, cargo holds, or packaging. In so doing, jeopardising the integrity of goods. It can lead to various types of damage, including corrosion, mold growth, product deterioration, and even complete loss.
Improper container sealing, faulty packaging, or inadequate securing of cargo can allow water to penetrate during transportation. This can be exacerbated by severe weather conditions, such as heavy rain, storms, or rough seas. Regular inspections, maintenance, and repairs of shipping containers and vessels are necessary to ensure their watertight integrity.
Water damage can render products unsellable, resulting in financial losses for businesses. Furthermore, damaged goods may require disposal, replacement, or extensive repairs, leading to additional costs and delays. Some examples include oxidation and corrosion of metal products, spoiling and mold damage to organic cargoes, caking or liquefaction of minerals, and damage to high-value manufactured goods. Additionally, some cargoes may react dangerously with water or produce highly acidic chemicals that can attack the steel structure of the cargo hold.
Protecting Against Water Ingress: The Portascanner® WATERTIGHT
The world-leading fully ABS Type Approved & RINA Accepted Portascanner® WATERTIGHT provides a fast and highly accurate method for checking any critical watertight or airtight seal for leak sites, with results in decibel and mathematical linear.
The Portascanner® WATERTIGHT provides a simple method to inspect hatches and hatch covers, ensuring that all leaks can be repaired before port departure. This drastically reduces the chance of cargo damage and increases the safety of the vessel and crew whilst complying with regulations:
SOLAS Reg II-1/11.1 states that hatches and watertight seals must be regularly tested: “Where a hose test is not practicable [sic] it may be replaced by [sic] an ultrasonic leak test or an equivalent test. In any case a thorough inspection of the watertight bulkheads shall be carried out.”
The Portascanner® WATERTIGHT is:
- Faster: designed for ease of use from the crew up to the chief engineer. There is no need for extensive and expensive training courses. Portascanner® WATERTIGHT is designed for ease of use, so all you need to do is read the operating instructions in the kit and away you go.
- Better: most mathematically accurate to 0.06 (+/-0.02mm) to identify leak integrity quickly and easily allowing prompt maintenance if required.
- Cheaper: never beaten on price guarantee from Coltraco Ultrasonics who are used to serving the world’s leading fleets for 30 years.
Coltraco Ultrasonics
With over 30 years of experience in the maritime sector, our innovative ultrasonic solutions are trusted by ship owners, managers, marine surveyors, ports, shipyards, and classification societies worldwide. We are incredibly proud to offer non-destructive testing solutions that allow you to address any issues onboard.
We are committed to uphold the Safeship™ and Safesite™ principles:
Safeship™: Our instruments are installed on 17% of the world’s 60,000 ships, safeguarding against catastrophic failures by monitoring watertight integrity and ensuring the safe containment of fire-extinguishing gases like CO2. These principles underpin our status as a Safeship™ company in the maritime sector.
Safesite™: Serving over 20 market sectors, our instruments ensure that safety-critical systems—such as gaseous fire suppression systems, sprinkler systems, and process control equipment in high-value assets—function effectively. In the Built Environment, our technology identifies airtightness and energy loss. This commitment makes us a Safesite™ company on land.
