• Hatch covers are used to make the cargo hatch watertight,

to protect the cargo and to stiffen up the structure of the

hatch opening.
• The hatch covers fit on top of the hatch coamings.
• The weather deck coamings are at a height set by the load
line rules.
• The various types or hatch covers that are mainly used on
board are as follows –

• Lifting type
• Rolling type
• Folding type
• Sliding type
• Roll stowing type
• Folding type
• Folding type hatch covers consists of two flat type topped
panels which are operated via hydraulic arms. These may
be fitted on both weather deck as well as tween deck. A
major advantage in the design of folding type hatch covers
is its large size which means less number of panels.
Rolling type
• Rolling type
• Rolling type hatch covers consists of two covers at the end
of the hatchway. Wheels are fitted which help in the
sliding of the panel either athwartship in case of side
rolling or longitudinally in case of end rolling. These type
of hatch covers are usually fitted on large ships. Hydraulic
rams are required to raise them to rolling position as they
are extremely heavy and have very large dimensions.
• Lifting type
• Lifting type
• Lift away type hatch covers can be classified into two types
a) Single panel covers,
b) Multi panel covers.
Single panel cover consists of a single cover for each
opening, these can be seen mainly on bulk carriers. In case
of multi panel covers, a single hold is covered via multiple
number of covers, these are most commonly observed in
cellular container ships in the case of longitudinal joints, and
for multipurpose cargo ship in case of transverse joints.
• Stacking cover type
• Stacking cover type
• These type of facility are used on ships having relatively
smaller hatch cover. It consists of a hydraulically powered
lifting crane facility whose purpose is to lift the covers
longitudinally and stack it together at one end or over any
empty stowage tank. It is relatively cheap and is used
mostly in barges.