Achieving Strict Grain Clean Standard Under Tight Deadlines on MV NAVIOS VICTORY
Achieving Strict Grain Clean Standard Under Tight Deadlines on MV Navios Victory
When managing bulk carrier operations, flexibility and quick turnaround times are crucial to profitability. Recently, Delta Maritime Agency was tasked with a challenging, time-sensitive cargo hold preparation project on the Supramax bulk carrier MV "NAVIOS VICTORY" (7 Holds / 7 Hatches, 77,095 DWT).
The vessel faced a high-stakes scenario common to global bulk fleet operators: a short notice window, short navigation distance, and a demanding cargo changeover from heavy coal to bulk urea.
The Challenge: Unplanned Destinations & Limited Resources
In the maritime shipping industry, market volatility often means the next port of call is unknown until the last minute. For the MV Navios Victory, there was no initial confirmation of where the vessel would fix next. However, one thing was crystal clear: the holds had to reach a strict grain-clean standard to give the operators complete chartering freedom and eliminate any risk of hold rejection.
To make things more challenging, the voyage from Brindisi (Italy) to Arzew (Algeria) provided a very short sailing window. Furthermore, when our team mobilized, the full suite of heavy-duty hold cleaning equipment was not yet available at the initial port of discharge.
• Intended Cargo: Urea in bulk (Requires strict Grain Cleanliness)
• Route: En route from Brindisi to Arzew
The Solution: A Step-by-Step Hold Cleaning Plan
Instead of relying on the ship’s crew or waiting for delayed gear, Delta Maritime Agency deployed a specialized professional riding team. Our certified high-altitude climbers started cleaning operations immediately using the available onboard equipment, adapting swiftly through manual cleaning techniques in the first available holds.
Once the full equipment set was deployed, our team executed a systematic, top-down 5-stage hold cleaning plan:
Chemical Application: Applying sodium hypochlorite directly onto all bulkheads, frames, and structures contaminated with sticky coal cargo residues.
Washout: Thorough high-pressure washing to eliminate the active chemicals and lifted coal dust.
HP Hydroblasting: Utilizing high-pressure machines (up to 250+ bar) on highly contaminated areas, upper structures, and the tank top to strip away stubborn scale and stains.
Freshwater (FW) Rinsing & Drying: Rinsing all 7 holds and hatches with fresh water to remove any salt/chloride streaks, followed by deep cleaning of the bilge wells and complete drying.
Spot Painting: Precision spot painting of frame intersections and upper sections to cover any historic cement or clinker stains, ensuring a pristine visual delivery.
The Result: 100% Survey Acceptance
Thanks to the round-the-clock efforts of our maritime riding team, all 7 cargo holds were successfully upgraded to the grain-clean standard before the vessel even arrived at the berth in Arzew, Algeria.
The independent surveyor accepted all holds immediately without a single remark or deficiency. The vessel avoided costly off-hire delays and successfully loaded its bulk urea cargo on schedule.