Cargo and Hatchwork

Construction The hatchway entrance is a cut-away from the upper deck stringer plates. The corners of the hatchway are cut on the round to provide continuity of strength and prevent shearing stresses causing cracks athwartships and bending forces causing cracks in the fore and aft line. The corner turns of the hatchway are often fi tted with reinforcing bars to prevent loading and racking stresses (Figure 6.1 ).