1 The Early Development of Hatch Covers. - 1. 1 Introduction to the access problem. - 1. 2 Early hatch covers. - 1. 3 Failings of wooden hatch covers. - 1. 4 The coming of steel hatch covers. - 1. 5 Steel hatches after 1927. - 2 Cargoes and Ships. - Summary. - 2. 1 Introduction. - 2. 2 Dry bulk trades. - 2. 3 Bulk liquid trades. - 2. 4 Break-bulk general cargo. - 2. 5 Unitized cargo. - 2. 6 Cargo handling. - 2. 7 General arrangement of ships. - 2. 8 Dry cargo ship types. - 3 The Influence of Cargo Access Equipment on Ships' Performance. - Summary. - 3. 1 The cost of time in port. - 3. 2 Delays in port. - 3. 3 Benefits of reduced time in port. - References. - 4 General Requirements for Access Equipment. - Summary. - 4. 1 Regulatory requirements. - 4. 2 Vertical loading ships. - 4. 3 Horizontal loading ships. - 4. 4 Operational requirements. - 4. 5 General considerations for access equipment. - 4. 6 Fabrication and installation. - 4. 7 Safety. - References. - 5 Access Equipment in Vertical Loading Ships. - Summary. - 5. 1 Types of hatch covers. - 5. 2 Single pull covers. - 5. 3 Folding covers (hydraulic or wire-operated). - 5. 4 Direct pull covers. - 5. 5 Roll stowing covers Rolltite'. - 5. 6 Side and end rolling covers. - 5. 7 Lift and roll covers (piggy-back). - 5. 8 Sliding tween-deck covers. - 5. 9 Pontoon covers. - 5. 10 Telescopic covers. - 5. 11 Flexible rolling covers. - 5. 12 Miscellaneous covers. - 6 Access Equipment for Horizontal Loading Ships. - Summary. - 6. 1 Design philosophy. - 6. 2 Ro-Ro access equipment. - 6. 3 Ramps. - 6. 4 Bow openings. - 6. 5 Elevators. - 6. 6 Side doors. - 6. 7 Bulkhead doors. - 6. 8 Car decks. - 6. 9 Dimensions and weights. - References. - 7 Ship Design and Selection of Access Equipment Bulk Cargo. - Summary. - 7. 1 Access equipment for ships carrying dry bulk cargoes. - 7. 2 Choice of type of hatch cover. - 7. 3 Economicevaluation of alternative equipment. - References. - 8 Ship Design and Selection of Access Equipment General Cargo. - Summary. - 8. 1 Multi-deck break-bulk ships. - 8. 2 Container ships. - 8. 3 Roll-on/Roll-off ships. - 8. 4 Specialized cargo vessels. - 8. 5 What sorts of ships are best for general cargo?. - References. - 9 Specific Design Requirements for Access Equipment. - Summary. - 9. 1 Hatch covers. - 9. 2 Access equipment in horizontal loading ships. - 9. 3 Advanced design techniques. - 9. 4 Seals. - 9. 5 Construction materials. - 9. 6 Miscellaneous. - References. - 10 Access Equipment in Service. - Summary. - 10. 1 Cargo claims. - 10. 2 Hatch cover surveys. - 10. 3 Hatch cover defects. - 10. 4 Some reasons for hatch leakage. - 10. 5 Hatch cover maintenance. - 10. 6 Hatch cover maintenance costs. - 10. 7 Ro-Ro access equipment maintenance. - 10. 8 Ship conversion. - References. - 11 Recent Developments and Prospects. - Summary. - 11. 1 Recent developments. - 11. 2 Influences on change. - 11. 3 Ship types. - 11. 4 Materials. - 11. 5 Innovation. Language: English