Portascanner® WATERTIGHT Prove Every Seal, Without a Hose or Chalk Test
On deck - sweeping a hatch-cover seal
Portascanner® WATERTIGHT places an ultrasonic transmitter inside a compartment; the operator scans the seal from outside and any gap shows up as sound passing through, pinpointed and sized down to a 0.06 mm aperture. Repeatable, loggable, and run by one crew member at sea or in port.
One generator inside, one receiver outside
Every figure on this page lives somewhere on the kit. Hover or tap a number to trace it to the hardware.
- 01Generator40 kHzSet inside the closed compartment; the PLUS generator mounts magnetically on the hatch coaming.
- 02ApprovalsABS Type ApprovalRINA accepted. Tests to SOLAS II-1/11.1, II-1/21.3 and II-1/13-1.1 and the IACS requirements for ultrasonic watertight-integrity testing.
- 03Receiver wand0.06 mmSwept along the seal from outside; finds apertures down to 0.06 mm (±0.02 mm).
- 04DisplaydB & %OHVA clear reading at each point on the seal, in dB or as Open Hatch Value.
- 05Handheld400 g229 × 85 × 35 mm, up to 10 hours on battery.
Portascanner® WATERTIGHT: PLUS & PRO
The single-operator handheld for routine seal checks, and the touchscreen system that also sizes each leak and its flow rate.
Single OperatorPortascanner® WATERTIGHT PLUS
The standard single-operator handheld for watertight doors, hatch covers and cable transits, a compact LCD unit that gives a clear dB / %OHV reading at each point on the seal, day in, day out.
Key specifications
| Detection | Aperture down to 0.06 mm (±0.02 mm) |
| Method | 40 kHz generator inside · receiver wand outside |
| Output | dB & Open Hatch Value (%OHV) |
| Size / weight | 229 × 85 × 35 mm · 400 g |
| Battery | Up to 10 hours |
| Standards | SOLAS II-1/11.1, II-1/21.3, II-1/13-1.1 · IACS watertight-integrity rules |
| Approvals | ABS Type Approval · RINA |
| IMPA | 652778 |
Multi-Leak MappingPortascanner® WATERTIGHT PRO
The advanced system on a 7" touchscreen tablet that locates each leak and sizes leaks of 0.5 to 20 mm to within ±10%, with a predicted flow rate, and records the survey with photos for the report. Built for large hatch covers and full vessel sweeps.
Key specifications
| Detection | Aperture down to 0.06 mm (±0.02 mm) |
| Capability | Locates leaks; sizes 0.5–20 mm leaks to ±10%, with flow rate |
| Flow accuracy | ±10% (0.5–20 mm) |
| Display | 7" touchscreen tablet |
| Ingress | IP65 (USB connectors IP68) |
| Battery | 6+ hours (wide-range generator 10 h) |
| Standards | SOLAS II-1/11.1, II-1/21.3, II-1/13-1.1 · IACS watertight-integrity rules |
| Certification | CE (no class type approval; for ABS / RINA specify the PLUS) |
| IMPA | 652778 |
Portascanner WATERTIGHT PLUS vs PRO
| WATERTIGHT PLUS | WATERTIGHT PRO | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Routine single-operator seal checks | Large hatch covers & full-vessel surveys with reporting |
| Platform | Handheld LCD | 7" touchscreen tablet |
| Smallest aperture | 0.06 mm (±0.02 mm) | 0.06 mm (±0.02 mm) |
| Leak size & flow rate | – | Yes: 0.5–20 mm, ±10% |
| Photograph & plot leak location | – | Yes |
| Output | dB · numerical · %OHV | dB · %OHV · mapped survey |
| Approvals | ABS Type Approved · RINA | CE only |
Testing a Seal, Step by Step
No hose, no chalk, no flooding: one operator and a repeatable number.
Place the generator
Set the 40 kHz ultrasonic generator inside the closed compartment; the PLUS generator mounts magnetically on the hatch coaming.
Sweep the seal
Move the handheld receiver wand along the seal line from outside; ultrasound passing through reveals any gap.
Read the result
Read in dB, numerically or as Open Hatch Value (%OHV). With the PRO, photograph and plot the exact leak for repair.
Where it's used aboard
Watertight Testing, Demonstrated
Footage published by Coltraco Ultrasonics showing the Portascanner WATERTIGHT range in use.
Sound finds the gap a visual check misses
Two traditional ways of checking a seal, and why ultrasound beats both.
Hose & chalk fall short
Hose tests are slow, messy and hard to repeat at sea. A chalk test only shows where a seal touches, not where it actually leaks.
Ultrasound passes through gaps
A 40 kHz generator sits inside the closed compartment while the operator sweeps a receiver along the seal from outside. Any gap, whether a worn gasket, a distorted coaming, or a badly packed cable transit, lets ultrasound through.
A number you can log
The instrument reads the leak in decibels and as an Open Hatch Value (%OHV): repeatable, run by one crew member, pass or fail at a glance.
Built for the rules you already work to
The business case matches the safety case: leaking hatch covers are the most common cause of wet-cargo claims, among the costliest claims on bulk carriers. How ultrasonic testing prevents wet-cargo claims →
What ships, and what to plan around
Both kits as Coltraco lists them, and the differences that decide which one to order.
What ships: WATERTIGHT PLUS
3-year warranty on the unit, 1 year on the sensor, lifetime technical support.
- Handheld receiver unit
- Flexible receiver wand with aluminium rod extensions
- 1.8 m BNC coaxial cable (longer available)
- 5-transducer ultrasonic generator
- Headphones
- User manual
- Calibration certificate
- Robust carrying case
What ships: WATERTIGHT PRO
Main unit and generators 3 years, sensor wand 1 year, lifetime technical support.
- Main receiver unit
- Ultrasound sensor wand, 2 aluminium wand sections and a wand handle
- 5 cm sensor positioning guide
- Precision generator and Wide-Range generator
- Tripod stand and clamp
- Headphones
- Micro-USB charger, USB thumb drive, USB Wi-Fi dongle, USB splitter
- Operating manual, calibration certificate, robust carrying case
Plan around these
As stated in Coltraco's own brochures. We confirm anything else on the quote.
- Class approval: the PLUS is ABS Type Approved and RINA accepted; the PRO carries CE marking only. Where a type-approved instrument is required, specify the PLUS.
- What each reads: the PLUS reads linear, dB and %OHV but does not size a leak. The PRO also sizes leaks of 0.5 to 20 mm equivalent diameter to within ±10%; below 0.5 mm it locates but does not size.
- Generator: the PLUS generator mounts magnetically on the hatch coaming, so it need not go on the cargo floor. The PRO has two: a Precision generator (single 40 kHz, 1-100% power) and a Wide-Range generator (three 40 kHz transducers, one output).
- Power: PLUS receiver 1× PP3, generator 3× PP3, 10 h. PRO main unit and Precision generator on a rechargeable LiPo, 6+ h; Wide-Range generator 1× PP3, 10 h.
- Temperature: PLUS −20 to +70 °C; PRO main unit −10 to +65 °C.
- Reach: PLUS 1.8 m BNC cable; PRO 1.8 m wand on a 3 m BNC cable. Longer cables on request for both.
Watertight Testing: FAQ
What can the Portascanner test?
How small a leak can it detect?
How often should watertight integrity be tested?
Which regulations does it support?
What does the PRO add over the PLUS?
Does it cover cable transits (MCTs) and IACS UR Z28?
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