Portascanner® WATERTIGHT PLUS

Test Hatch Covers as Recommended by P&I Clubs

Ultrasonic hatch cover testing is the only recognised method by P&I Clubs around the world in determining weathertightness in hatch covers. Using the Portascanner® WATERTIGHT PLUS, the crew is able to locate leaks and report them in decibel (dB) and percentage Open Hatch Value (%OHV) which is a Classification Society requirement.

The hatch cover is considered weathertight when the %OHV is less than 10%, and the Portascanner® WATERTIGHT PLUS calculates this figure automatically to enable quick and seamless testing by the crew. This calculation requirement complies with DNVGL-CP-0484 and IACS URZ17. Suitable for use on all classes of bulk carriers, offshore structures and various marine vessel types.

Regulatory Compliance With Ease

Portascanner® WATERTIGHT PLUS’ ABS Type Approval and RINA Classification Society Acceptance establish it as an industry-approved solution to watertight integrity testing and regulatory compliance.

IMO SOLAS Reg II-1/21.3 states that “The watertight doors and all mechanisms and indicators connected therewith shall be periodically inspected at sea at least once a week.”

Conventional tests to meet this regulation like the Chalk test and Hose test are inferior to the quick and clean testing process which Portascanner® WATERTIGHT PLUS. These processes require multiple operators, take longer, and in the case of the hose test, can be messy.

Portascanner® WATERTIGHT PLUS is used by a single operator to detect leaks in the hatch or structure and it can give an exact value of the severity of the leak. This allows these weekly inspections to be conducted faster.

Three Operational Modes

Portascanner® WATERTIGHT PLUS has three operational settings and adjustable gain to make it a versatile solution to a wide range of structures:

Decibel (dB): Using the logarithmic Decibel scale, this expresses the received signal in the raw form which marine safety regulations dictate is necessary.

Linear/Numerical: This mode expresses the received ultrasonic signal on a linear rather than logarithmic scale, allowing for easier interpretation of results.

Open Hatch Value (OHV)%: Specific for hatch covers, this mode displays the leak size as a percentage of the saved value for a hatch cover as if it were fully open.

Powerful Generator

There is a misconception that ultrasound travels in only one direction, it actually reflects off surfaces, giving you full coverage of the cargo hold. Having 5 transducers is as powerful as heavy and bulky older style generators, which are still used on most basic models in the market.

The Portascanner® WATERTIGHT PLUS generator fills the entire cargo hold with ultrasound. The receiver detects the smallest of ultrasonic signals so that leaks as tiny as 0.06mm can be located. The specific power output of the generator is chosen to fill the space and works in tandem with the receiver without being overpowered to saturate the receiver. This ensures that Open Hatch Values remain a meaningfully quantitative measurement through which to assess watertightness /weathertightness effectively. “Overpowered” receivers cut off the reading at an arbitrary maximum which would make the Open Hatch Values meaningless.

It is important to avoid a maximum reading for the OHV because a maximum reading could, actually, be anything above the maximum and is therefore useless in comparing to the closed hatch value, when the measurement is taken.