bulk cargo claims due to water ingress in the holds

2. We Constellation Marine Services as Independent Marine
Consultants received a nomination from one of our overseas
Principals in order to assess the potential cargo claims due to
moisture damage, cargo reported to be with mould growth in the
hold.
Constellation?s senior marine insurance claims surveyor contacted
the local agents to arrange all port formalities so as to board.
BACKGROUND
Our senior marine insurance claims surveyor from Constellation
Marine Services, boarded the vessel, met the Master & Chief
Officer and explained the purpose of his visit, the master handed
requested documents over to our surveyor for his perusal.
Our senior marine insurance claims surveyor was made to
understand from his conversations with the Master & the
documentations that the subject vessel had loaded a cargo of
grains in all her cargo holds in a South American port. Cargo was
loaded in fair weather, with no record of any precipitation during
the time of loading.
After the vessel sailed out from her load port enroute to her
discharge port she encountered bad weather, shipping seas /
sprays on deck. On arriving at her discharge port, discharging of
cargo commenced from designated cargo holds. When the last 3
cargo holds as per discharge sequence were opened for discharge,
receivers noted part of the cargo damaged due to presence of
moisture, where the cargo was noted to be with mould.
The receivers issued a Letter of Protest to the vessel in regards to
the damaged cargo. Master informed the owners of the same &
requested the attendance of P&I surveyor on behalf of the vessel
owners. Accordingly, Constellation Marine Services as surveyors
were appointed
BULK CARGO CLAIM DUE TO WATER INGRESS IN THE CARGO HOLDS
OR
INSPECTION /TESTING OF WATER TIGHT INTEGRITY OF HATCH COVERS

3. DETAILSOFOURON BOARD SURVEY:
Based on the review of the documents availed to our surveyor
onboard, it was noted that Vessel had encountered bad weather,
shipping seas / sprays on deck during her passage from the load
port.
Our marine warranty surveyor then inspected the hatch covers of
the subject cargo holds & noted that the rubber packing, structural
members, quick closing cleats & non return drain valves were in
good condition. Our surveyor then inspected the ballast tanks
adjacent & noted the tanks had not been ballasted during the
passage, same were noted to be empty from the load port.
Our senior marine warranty surveyor then informed the P&I club
of the same & requested that an Ultra Sonic leak detection test be
carried out to ascertain the water tight integrity of the hatch
covers.
The Ultra Sonic Leak detection test was carried out in the presence
of the Chief Officer of the vessel & it was noted that there was
effective sealing between the hatch cover & the coaming, but the
natural ventilators on the hatch covers were not closed
appropriately causing water ingress. It was noted that the cargo of
grains in line with/below natural ventilator were affected by
moisture/ damaged. The Master was requested to sign the ULD
reports of the test & a copy of the same was provided for his
reference.
SUMMARY OF OURSURVEYOR?SFINDINGS:
- Vessel encountered bad weather, shipping seas / sprays on
deck, during her voyage.
- Receivers issued a Letter of Protest to the Master in regards to
the damaged cargo.
- Hatch cover fittings were inspected & noted to be in good
condition.