After more than 20 years attending loading operations and hatch inspections, one lesson remains consistent: A closed hatch cover is not necessarily a watertight hatch cover.

Before signing a Hatch Closure Report, there are three critical areas we always inspect:

1. Non-Return Valves & Drain Channels

A clean drain channel alone is not enough. If a non-return valve is seized or blocked by cargo residues, water cannot drain effectively, increasing the risk of moisture ingress into the cargo hold.

2. Rubber Gaskets

Visible damage is only part of the picture. Loss of elasticity, permanent deformation, and uneven compression can significantly reduce sealing performance, even when a gasket appears intact.

3. Compression Bars

A gasket can only perform as well as the surface it seals against. Corrosion, wear, or distortion of compression bars can compromise watertight integrity and increase the likelihood of cargo damage.

Why These Components Matter

At the loading port, these findings rarely delay a vessel. At the discharge port, they often become the first items examined during a cargo claim investigation.

• A blocked valve.
• A hardened gasket.
• A worn compression bar.

Individually, each may appear insignificant. Together, they can create the conditions for costly cargo damage.

The VM Control Approach

Our hatch cover inspections focus on identifying potential weaknesses before the vessel sails. Through detailed examination and proper documentation, we help shipowners, operators, charterers, and cargo interests reduce the risk of avoidable cargo claims.

Because a hatch cover does not become watertight simply because it is closed.

It becomes watertight only when every component of the sealing system performs as designed.

🚛⚓EVERY GATEWAY – ONE SPEED

📍 Ho Chi Minh City ➔ Ba Ria – Vung Tau ➔ Cai Mep ➔ Quy Nhon ➔ Da Nang ➔ Hai Phong….

⚡ 4 HOURS: On-site Attendance ⚡ 12 HOURS: Survey Completion ⚡ 24 HOURS: Certificate Issuance

CONTACT INFORMATION

VIET MARINE CONTROL JOINT STOCK COMPANY – VM CONTROL

📍 Address: 1831/10/9 Huynh Tan Phat Street, Quarter 2, Nha Be Commune, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

📞 Hotline: +84 981 600 440 / +84 918 114 742

🌐 Website: www.vietmarinecontrol.com.vn

📧 Email: survey@vietmarinecontrol.com.vn

🔵 Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/vm-control-234252386

To safeguard your fixture, the three most common risks must be tightly controlled:

1. Cargo Hold Sweating
A cargo hold may appear completely dry during loading, yet moisture can develop later due to the thermal gradient and temperature differences between ballast tanks, steel structures, and ambient air. One incorrect ventilation decision by the crew can initiate cement caking long before the vessel reaches the discharge port.

2. Cement-Clogged Drain Channels
Cement dust inevitably settles inside hatch drain channels and non-return valves during loading operations. Once exposed to sea spray or rainwater during the voyage, this dust may harden into concrete and restrict the drainage system. Blocked drainage leads to water accumulation around hatch covers, drastically increasing the risk of moisture ingress into the cargo space.

3. Hatch Sealing Deficiencies
Ram-Nek tape and other sealing materials are only effective when applied to clean, bone-dry, and properly prepared steel surfaces. Dust contamination creates micro-capillary gaps that later allow moisture to be drawn directly into the cargo hold due to negative pressure changes during the voyage.

Why These Findings Matter
None of these issues appear particularly serious during loading. However, they routinely become significant when the cargo condition is questioned at the discharge port, and surveyors, receivers, and P&I representatives become involved. In our experience on the tank top, preventing these issues before departure is far less costly than defending a multi-hundred-thousand-dollar cargo damage claim afterwards.

How VM Control Supports Operators
VM Control assists shipowners, operators, and charterers through targeted risk mitigation:

• Cargo Hold Inspections
• Hatch Cover Inspections
• Loading Supervision
• Condition Surveys
• Loss Prevention Surveys
• Independent Documentation and Evidence Preservation

For urgent survey attendance and loss prevention support throughout Vietnam, please contact our 24/7 operations desk:

CONTACT INFORMATION
VIET MARINE CONTROL JOINT STOCK COMPANY – VM CONTROL

📍 Address: 1831/10/9 Huynh Tan Phat Street, Quarter 2, Nha Be Commune, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
📞 Hotline: +84 981 600 440 / +84 918 114 742
🌐 Website: www.vietmarinecontrol.com.vn
📧 Email: survey@vietmarinecontrol.com.vn
🔵 Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/vm-control-234252386

In the maritime industry, cargo loading operations are a critical stage that directly impacts cargo safety, vessel stability, and the legal responsibilities of all parties involved.

Cargo supervision services are conducted to monitor the entire loading operation, from cargo condition inspection and cargo hold condition assessment to the actual loading activities at the port.

The scope of supervision includes:

• Inspection of cargo condition prior to loading
• Monitoring the cleanliness condition of cargo holds/containers
• Supervising the loading process and cargo stowage
• Recording damages, shortages, or operational incidents
• Preparing independent reports, photographic records, and on-site documentation

Independent cargo supervision helps minimize the risk of cargo loss or damage, enhance operational transparency, and provide effective support for claims handling, insurance matters, and maritime dispute resolution.

We are committed to delivering professional, impartial, and timely supervision services to safeguard our clients’ interests throughout the entire maritime transportation process.

PRECISION – COMPLIANCE – FORENSICS

For the export of 900 tons of structural steel (60 containers) to the U.S. market, VM CONTROL establishes the benchmark for independent inspection—preserving cargo integrity and safeguarding the reputation of the international logistics chain.

CORE OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES

• ASSET PRESERVATION: Independent verification of factory loading processes, certifying the pristine condition of steel structures prior to dispatch.
• TECHNICAL COMPLIANCE: Strict adherence to IMO CSS Code and CTU Code for specialized lashing and securing systems within containers.
• FORENSIC EVIDENCE: Full digitalization of field data with geotagging and timestamping, providing high-value forensic records for audits and international dispute resolution.
• OPERATIONAL CONTINUITY: End-to-end risk management, ensuring project milestones are met under the pressure of rigorous U.S. safety standards and timelines.

🚛⚓EVERY GATEWAY – ONE SPEED 
📍 Ho Chi Minh City ➔ Ba Ria – Vung Tau ➔ Cai Mep ➔ Quy Nhon ➔ Da Nang ➔ Hai Phong….
⚡ 4 HOURS: On-site Attendance
⚡ 12 HOURS: Survey Completion
⚡ 24 HOURS: Certificate Issuance

VIET MARINE CONTROL JOINT STOCK COMPANY – VM CONTROL

📍 Address: 1831/10/9 Huynh Tan Phat Street, Quarter 2, Nha Be Commune, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
📞 Hotline: +84 981 600 440 / +84 918 114 742
🌐 Website: www.vietmarinecontrol.com.vn
📧 Email: survey@vietmarinecontrol.com.vn
🔵 Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/vm-control-234252386

A single discrepancy in OSV operations can trigger a domino effect:
❌ Project Delays

❌ Marine Claims

❌ Insurance Disputes 

❌ Loss of Operational Control.

At national-scale offshore gas pipeline projects, VM CONTROL serves as the independent eye, establishing a robust defense system:
✔ Digital Verification: Field data secured by Geo-tagging & Time-stamping.
✔ Technical Integrity: Verifying the condition of high-tech equipment and project cargo from shore to sea.
✔ Chain of Evidence: Managing clean data for Insurance, Audits, and Claim Handling.
✔ Compliance: Upholding strict Anti-Bribery standards in high-value environments.
We don’t just inspect. We protect your timeline, your cash flow, and your technical reputation.

🚛⚓EVERY GATEWAY – ONE SPEED 
📍 Ho Chi Minh City ➔ Ba Ria – Vung Tau ➔ Cai Mep ➔ Quy Nhon ➔ Da Nang ➔ Hai Phong….
⚡ 4 HOURS: On-site Attendance
⚡ 12 HOURS: Survey Completion
⚡ 24 HOURS: Certificate Issuance

VIET MARINE CONTROL JOINT STOCK COMPANY – VM CONTROL

📍 Address: 1831/10/9 Huynh Tan Phat Street, Quarter 2, Nha Be Commune, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
📞 Hotline: +84 981 600 440 / +84 918 114 742
🌐 Website: www.vietmarinecontrol.com.vn
📧 Email: survey@vietmarinecontrol.com.vn
🔵 Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/vm-control-234252386