Getting to Bulk Grain Cleanliness Standards from the Worst Starting Point on MV WINNER
Getting to Bulk Grain Cleanliness Standards from the Worst Starting Point on MV WINNER
At first glance, looking into a dry cargo hold heavily layered with loose rust, peeling paint, and deeply ingrained coal residues, most technical managers would state one thing unequivocally: this vessel requires an immediate, costly stay in a dry dock.
However, sending a bulk carrier into dry dock means breaking commercial schedules, incurring massive off-hire losses, and absorbing staggering shipyard maintenance bills. At Delta Maritime Agency, we offer ship operators a smarter, highly efficient, and more cost-effective alternative: comprehensive cargo hold cleaning, technical descaling, and full surface painting executed entirely en route.
A prime example of this is our recent successful contract carried out on the Panamax bulk carrier MV WINNER (74,759 DWT, 7 cargo holds/hatches, 82,347 cbm capacity).
The Challenge: Severe Multi-Cargo Contamination & Structural Corrosion
The MV WINNER faced an incredibly challenging transition. Having carried consecutive, heavy-staining bulk coal cargoes, the holds were severely contaminated. Furthermore, the major underlying issue was not just the cargo residues, but an extensive build-up of loose rust and failing paint scale across 100% of the internal hold surfaces.
To achieve the immaculate grain cleanliness standard required for the vessel's next charter under the Black Sea grain corridor framework, the holds required a complete structural reset while steaming from Suez to Istanbul.
The Solution: Delta Maritime's Advanced 5-Stage Hold Preparation Plan
Our specialized marine riding team mobilized immediately, working 24/7 en route to execute a heavy-duty, high-altitude maintenance protocol:
High-Pressure (HP) Hydro-Blasting: Initial chemical washing and high-pressure cleaning targeted highly contaminated coal zones and stubborn soot layers.
Mechanical Descaling & Derusting: Intensive chipping-off and manual hammering out of all loose scale, thick flash rust, and peeling paint from bulkheads, frames, and upper structures.
Debris Washout: Thorough clear-out to flush all chipped loose materials and remaining contaminants from the holds.
Freshwater Rinsing & Complete Drying: Full freshwater rinsing to neutralize salt residues, accompanied by bilge well cleaning and thorough hot-air drying to ensure proper paint adhesion.
100% Full Surface Painting: A massive painting operation covering all hold surfaces, including the underside of top-side tanks (TST), cross decks, catwalks, access ladders, and inner framing spaces.
The Result: A Reliable, Budget-Friendly Alternative to Dry Docking
The intense effort from our riding teams paid off perfectly. Upon completion of the passage, the vessel's 7 massive cargo holds were inspected and unconditionally accepted.
The MV WINNER sailed straight to the port of Odessa to begin loading operations under the grain deal, entirely bypassing the need for an expensive dry dock intervention. No matter how severe your fleet's current hold conditions are, Delta Maritime Agency is prepared to deliver localized or full-scale hold, deck, and superstructure maintenance to keep your ships trading without interruption.
Get in touch with our operations team today at ops@delta-maritime.agency to request a fast quotation for your next cargo rotation.