Ultra-Fast Cargo Hold Preparation on MV BRIGHT FALCON From Gdansk to Szczecin
Case Study: Ultra-Fast Cargo Hold Preparation on MV BRIGHT FALCON From Gdansk to Szczecin
In commercial ship operations, route flexibility often results in very tight operational windows. When the bulk carrier MV BRIGHT FALCON (5 holds, 63,478 DWT, 80,497 cubic meters) completed discharging its bulk coal cargo in Gdansk, Poland, its subsequent fixture details demanded an ultra-fast turnaround to achieve strict international grain cleanliness standards.
Because the next loading port was geographically close, the sailing voyage offered only a minimal window of time. Relying purely on the vessel's crew during such a brief transit would pose a significant commercial risk of hold rejection and costly off-hire delays. To eliminate this risk, the operators appointed Delta Maritime Agency to deploy a professional hold cleaning team to execute a high-speed hold cleaning en route from port to port.
Overcoming Limited Sailing Windows via Parallel Port Operations
To successfully complete an extensive holds cleaning project within a brief sea transit, our strategy required launching operations before the ship even left the berth. Delta Maritime Agency’s specialized riding team boarded the vessel immediately upon the start of discharging operations in Gdansk.
By coordinating a safe, disciplined workflow alongside the shore cranes, our crew initiated the dry cleaning and sweeping phases inside the first available cargo hold while discharge operations were actively concluding in the remaining hatches. Thanks to this aggressive parallel approach, the MV BRIGHT FALCON departed the port of Gdansk with three out of its five massive holds already 90% cleaned.
Technical Holds Maintenance: Our Standardized 5-Stage Plan
To completely eradicate all persistent coal soot, grease, and bulkhead staining, our professional high altitude cleaners systematically performed our field-proven 5-stage holds washing and treatment framework while at sea:
Dry Cleaning & Manual Sweeping: Thorough manual sweeping and lifting of all loose coal residues of both small and large fractions from the tank tops, hoppers, and lower framing structures.
Targeted Chemical Application: Even application of premium chemical cleaning emulsifiers (Marichem P.C.S.) across all internal bulkhead surfaces, frames, and deep structural stiffeners to dissolve stubborn hydrocarbon films.
Thorough Washout: Intensive marine washing using high-pressure sea-water systems to rinse away the emulsified chemicals and dislodged coal residues.
Industrial High-Pressure Machine Cleaning: Deep mechanical scrubbing of highly contaminated areas, bracket corners, corrugations, and the main tank top utilizing specialized high-pressure (HP) washing equipment.
Freshwater Rinsing & Complete Drying: A meticulous final fresh water (FW) rinse across all holds and upper hatch structures. The bilge wells were thoroughly flushed, cleared of debris, and vacuumed, followed by a complete drying of the tank tops to ensure a pristine, moisture-free environment for the clean cargo.
Flawless Inspection Pass: Eliminating Operational Risks at Sea
By operating around the clock in a continuous 24/7 rotation, our riding team finished all remaining technical workloads well before the vessel reached the Szczecin pilot station. Upon arrival, the cargo holds underwent a strict independent surveyor inspection and passed flawlessly on the first attempt.
Executing this comprehensive holds maintenance campaign en route saved the vessel operator multiple days of expensive intermediate anchoring fees, fuel consumption, and scheduling disruptions.
Do not gamble with your fixtures or risk expensive vessel re-inspections by relying solely on standard ship crews during tight transit windows. Entrust your fleet's efficiency to a certified, world-class team. Contact Delta Maritime Agency today to receive a competitive hold cleaning quotation.