The Perfect Duo for Ship Maintenance: Cygnus 6+ Pro and Hatch Sure

21 minutes ago

2 min read

In today’s maritime industry, ship operators must reduce costs, improve safety, and maximise uptime. Two hidden threats can undermine those goals: corrosion beneath protective coatings and micro leaks in hatch cover seals. If left undetected, both can lead to costly repairs, cargo damage claims, dry docking delays, and operational disruption.

The key to avoiding these problems is early detection. By combining the Cygnus 6+ Pro ultrasonic thickness gauge with the Cygnus Hatch Sure ultrasonic leak detector, shipowners can proactively protect both vessel structures and valuable cargo.

Monitoring Corrosion Before It Becomes a Problem

Marine environments are highly corrosive, with hulls, ballast tanks, and cargo holds constantly exposed to saltwater and humidity. Without regular monitoring, wall loss can go unnoticed until costly repairs or steel renewals are unavoidable. Regular ultrasonic thickness measurements help operators track corrosion and plan maintenance proactively.

Cygnus 6+ Pro streamlines thickness inspections by measuring through coatings up to 20mm thick using Cygnus’ proven Multiple-Echo technology, eliminating the need for grinding and recoating. This reduces inspection time, labour costs, downtime, and safety risks while preserving protective coatings.

Designed for harsh marine environments, the Cygnus 6+ Pro combines a rugged design with accurate measurements, even on heavily corroded surfaces. Its live A-scan display provides confidence in challenging applications, while comprehensive data logging supports inspection records and corrosion trending for predictive maintenance programmes.

The real-world impact is already being seen by operators. A Cygnus customer in Louisiana, USA, who owns and operates multiple inland workboats and barges, reported: “The Cygnus 6+ has significantly reduced the time required to gauge steel from this customer’s perspective. Its rugged design and reliable accuracy have largely eliminated the need for pre-grind gauge spots that were previously coated.”

Detecting the Leaks You Can’t See

While corrosion threatens a vessel’s structure, hatch cover leaks pose a direct risk to cargo. Sea water ingress remains a leading cause of cargo damage claims in the dry bulk and general cargo sectors. The challenge is, even microscopic gaps in otherwise serviceable seals can allow water ingress during heavy weather, making visual inspections unreliable.

Cygnus Hatch Sure uses ultrasound to pinpoint leaks invisible to the naked eye. A transmitter inside the hold generates an ultrasonic sound field, while a handheld receiver detects escaping sound around hatch covers and seals, precisely locating any leak.

Fast, accurate, and weather-independent, Hatch Sure can be operated by a single person and even used with cargo in place. ABS Type Approved and accepted by P&I clubs, it provides a recognised method for verifying hatch cover weathertightness and reducing the risk of cargo damage claims.

The Ultimate Preventative Maintenance Partnership

Together, the Cygnus 6+ Pro and Hatch Sure provide a complete vessel integrity solution, helping operators detect corrosion, wall loss, and hatch cover leaks before they become costly problems. For shipowners looking to reduce downtime, avoid cargo claims, and extend asset life, they are the perfect ultrasonic duo for proactive ship maintenance.