ABSTRACT
The shipping industry of the twenty-first century continues to handle and transport every known product on the planet. The hatches and the holds have seen major change in construction to cater for mechanized handling of pallets, containers and even some bulk cargoes. Hydraulic hatch operations are labour saving, more secure and provide a deck loading capability. New tonnage in the dry cargo market tends to have much more open hatchways when compared with the earlier conventional hatch spaces. Tank top ceiling is a wooden sheathing over the double bottom tank tops, usually in way of the hatch, providing the tank tops with some protection from wear and tear. The ceiling also assists ventilation and drainage of cargoes, and with many cargoes relieves the necessity of laying double dunnage. Dunnage is used when stowing cargo to protect it from contact with steelwork, other cargoes, or any possibly damaging influences.
