Single pull macgregor type hatch cover.pdf - Cochin University of ...

in previous arrangement. Thus the number of heavy components to be lifted
every time the hatch was opened and closed would have been reduced from
eleven to four.
Figure 1.1 Simplified arrangement of a traditional hatch
Source: Cargo Access Equipment for Merchant Ships.
This arrangement also had the advantage of being safer than the earlier
one. As hatches became longer it becomes increasingly necessary to fit force and
afters in several actions. These were more difficult to ship when battening down
that those modes in one piece, since at least one end of each section had to be
positioned on a seat attached to a traverse web before the hatch board could be
put on. This meant that the man had to sit astride the web, over the open hold, to
guide into place a very dangerous practice.
Atharwdship hatch boards and fore and afters continued to be used well
into 20 th century although the longitudinal arrangement gradually replaced them.
After the implantation of the 1930 international load line conventions fore and
after were only found in ships with very small hatches.
4