Selecting the right type of hatch covers is crucial for the efficient operation and safety of your inland shipping barge. At Blommaert Aluminium, we offer a range of hatch covers tailored to meet the diverse needs of the shipping industry. Aluminium hatches are incredibly efficient in covering your cargo, and offer easy access for the transhipment of bulk goods. This article will guide you through the various types of hatch covers and their industry applications, helping you make an informed decision.
Delta sliding hatch covers
Delta sliding hatch covers are lightweight, self-supporting, and designed for spans up to 15 meters. These covers are particularly suitable for tug-pushed barges, providing durability and ease of operation.
Technical specifications:
- Type: cover model with double ridge option
- Material:
- Top plating thickness: 2.5 mm (3 mm optional)
- Side walls thickness: 4 mm
- Construction features:
- Horizontal section in checker plate
- Ridge reinforced on underside
- Top plating folded in strong pile planking section
- Top plating mounted on 4 mm aluminium side walls with supports on the inside
- Extra components:
- EPDM seals to prevent water ingress
- Stainless-steel wheel housings in side walls with wheels on double bearings and stainless-steel axles
- Lock housings in stainless steel
- Sturdy storm hooks on each hatch for extra security
Benefits:
- Convenience: lightweight design allows for easy movement
- Durability: self-supporting and particularly strong pile planking structure
- Low maintenance: limited mechanical parts
- Large span: suitable for spans up to 15 meters
Smooth sliding hatch covers (GL)
The smooth sliding hatch covers, also known as GL covers, feature a smooth surface and a non-slip checker plate walkway. These panels slide telescopically into one another, optimizing space utilization.
Technical Specifications:
- Type: Smooth surface
- Material:
- Aluminium sheet available in 3 mm or 4 mm thickness
- Construction Features:
- Integrated non-slip checker plate walkway on the hatch ridge for safe navigation
- Top plating: mounted on a robust aluminium box section structure for added strength and durability
- Tracked on one side to compensate for differences in hold width
- Extra components:
- EPDM seals to prevent water ingress
- Wheels on bearings
- Storm locks
- Handle casings
- Stainless-steel locking
Benefits:
- Safety: checker plate on the ridge prevents slipping when walking on the hatch
- Lightweight construction: easy manual movement
- Low maintenance: limited mechanical parts
- Flexible opening levels: options for 2, 3, or 4 levels
Stacking hatch covers
HD pile planking and HD-GL stacking hatch covers offer a loading and unloading opening of up to 90%. These covers are stackable, providing flexibility for various applications and weather conditions.
H3/ Technical specifications:
- Type: heavy aluminium sections as a base for stackable hatch covers
- Construction features:
- HD pile planking: self-supporting pile planking in aluminium sheet (2.5 or 3 mm) with a checker plate walkway
- HD-GL: hatch covers supported by box sections with smooth aluminium plating (3 or 4 mm) and central non-slip walkway
- Aluminium wheel housings welded to side section with wheels on double bearings and stainless steel axles
- Extra components:
- Single-handed operation possible
- Cast stacking housings
- Storm lock supports for removable storm hooks
- Equipped with a hydraulic system
Benefits:
- Heavy duty version: for robust constructions
- Large opening: up to 90% for efficient loading/unloading
- Customizable positions: By sliding and stacking you determine the position of the opening yourself
- Reduced track width: streamlined design due to a single-level structure
Frisian-style hatch covers
Frisian-style hatch covers are widely favoured in inland navigation for their custom-fit aluminium construction, tailored to match hold widths from 4 to 12.5 meters. Featuring two sloping sections resting on the coaming and a smooth horizontal walkway, they ensure secure cargo protection without requiring additional modifications for the coaming. Ideal for diverse applications, these covers combine durability with ease of use for optimal cargo management onboard.
Technical specifications:
- Type: separate aluminium hatch covers that are made to measure to match the hold with of inland navigation vessels
- Material:
- Made of formed aluminium sheet
- Construction features:
- Horizontal central section in checker plate: only for double ridge
- Flexible rubber strips on cleats to compensate for unevenness in the coaming and differences in hold width
Benefits:
- Available in various sizes: panels in 1, 2 or 3 sections depending on the hold length.
- Can be combined with hatch crane: ideal for precisely moving and optimally stacking the hatch covers without sacrificing surface area.
- Available in different types
- Faster transhipment due to large opening
Blommaert stands for quality
From start to finish, Blommaert is committed to delivering the highest quality in every aspect of our work. We pride ourselves on the quality of the techniques we use, ensuring that each project is executed with precision and expertise. Our EN1090 standard guarantees the quality of our products and the quality of our employees and welding methods. Interested in installing a retractable roof at your storage facility? Get in touch with our team, we’ll happily discuss the options for your barge.
