On 15 October 2024, The Swedish Club hosted an insightful webinar titled Sealing the Deal: How to Prevent Hatch Cover Leaks, featuring guest expert Walter Vervloesem. The session focused on one of the most critical yet often overlooked areas of maritime operations: the integrity of hatch covers.

Walter Vervloesem (FNI, Senior VP), Chairman of IMCS Group and Director of IMCS Training Academy, delivered an engaging and detailed presentation, offering practical solutions to prevent hatch cover leaks—an issue responsible for a significant number of cargo claims in the industry. His expert insights ranged from the importance of proper maintenance routines to modern sealing technologies that can drastically reduce the risk of water ingress.

The audience was highly engaged, providing glowing feedback on the webinar. Attendees praised Walter for his clear explanations and practical advice, noting how the session was not only informative but also applicable to their daily operations. The lively Q&A session highlighted how relevant and timely this topic is for shipowners and operator

The recording of the webinar is now available (see below) for those who were unable to attend or wish to revisit the material. Accessing this content is a great way to enhance understanding of how to protect valuable cargo and reduce costly claims.

Stay tuned for more loss prevention initiatives as we continue to support safer, more efficient maritime operations.

Here is a copy of Walter’s presentation.

To watch previous webinars, please visit our webinar page.