Can a riding crew clean bulk carrier holds? How riding squads work, what they cost and when they pay off

What is a riding crew?

A riding crew (or riding squad) is a team of workers who sail with the vessel for part of a voyage to carry out a specific job. For hold cleaning, they board at or near the discharge port, clean the holds during the passage and leave at the load port or a convenient port on the way.

They aren't part of the ship's crew, but while on board they live and work under the Master's authority, follow the ship's safety management system and permit-to-work procedures, and are accounted for on the crew list and in the lifesaving arrangements.

Can riding crew clean bulk carrier holds?

Yes, and for a dirty-to-grain change on a tight schedule it's often the best option. A riding crew can do everything a shore gang does: sweeping, residue removal, washing, chemical cleaning, high-pressure washing, fresh water rinsing, drying, bilge preparation and pre-inspection. The difference is where it happens: at sea instead of alongside.

What they can't control is the weather and the sea. Work in holds continues in most conditions, but heavy rolling can stop work at height, and rain can stop drying.

Can hold cleaning really be done during the voyage?

Yes, with some conditions:

• Wash water discharge at sea is governed by MARPOL Annex V. For non-HME cargo residues and cleaning agents, discharge is generally allowed en route, at least 12 nautical miles from land and outside special areas. HME residues must go ashore. Plan the route and timing so washing happens where discharge is permitted, or plan to retain wash water.
• Hatch covers can be opened at sea only when it's safe and the Master agrees, with extra securing as needed.
• Atmosphere testing and enclosed space entry procedures apply exactly as in port.
• Weather routing matters. A passage across a monsoon or winter storm belt may give fewer working days than the calendar suggests.

Can riding crew save a port day?

That's the whole point. Every day of cleaning moved from port to passage is a day the ship isn't sitting at anchor or alongside, off hire or burning laytime. On a short ballast leg, a riding crew can start in the first hold while the ship is still discharging the last, and keep going right up to arrival.

Operators often use a combination: a shore gang at the discharge port to remove residue and do the heavy first wash while discharge finishes, then a riding crew for chemical work, final washing, rinsing and drying on passage.

What certifications should riding crew have?

Riding crew are working at sea, so they need seafarer-level documentation. At a minimum, expect:

• STCW basic safety training (personal survival, fire prevention and firefighting, first aid, personal safety and social responsibility)
• A valid seafarer medical certificate
• Passport, visas and a seaman's book or equivalent as required by flag and port states
• Any flag-state requirements for persons other than crew on board
• Job-specific competence: enclosed space entry training, HP washing, chemical handling, and for work at height, rope access certification (IRATA or equivalent)

Our riding crews carry STCW documentation, valid medicals, visas and flag endorsements and work under the master's authority and the ship's permit-to-work system. Ask any contractor to send copies before the crew boards.

Is IRATA certification required?

Not for all hold cleaning, but for work at height on the upper structure using ropes, yes. IRATA certification (Level 1, 2 or 3, with a Level 3 supervising) is the most widely recognised standard for industrial rope access. If a riding crew will clean upper frames on ropes, insist on it. See our guide to rope access hold cleaning for more.

How many riding crew do you need?

It depends on the number of holds, the previous cargo, the required standard and the length of the passage. Our riding crews range from 4 to 20 people. A longer passage means a smaller team can do the job; a short passage needs more people working several holds at once. As a rough approach:

• Estimate total man-hours for the job (holds × effort per hold)
• Divide by working hours available on passage, allowing for weather and drying time
• Add a supervisor and an equipment/chemical person on deck

Don't forget accommodation and lifesaving capacity. The ship must have berths and lifeboat/liferaft capacity for everyone.

Can riding crew join the vessel at Singapore?

Yes. Singapore is one of the busiest crew-change hubs in the world and riding crews often join there, as well as at Fujairah and other major bunkering and crew-change ports, including those on the vessel's route. Joining usually requires the ship's agent to arrange boarding, immigration formalities and a launch. Plan it a few days in advance. Visa rules for the riding crew's nationalities matter, so tell the contractor the ports as early as possible.

How much does riding crew hold cleaning cost?

Riding crew are typically priced per person per day on board, plus mobilisation (flights, visas, launch and agency costs), equipment and chemicals. The total is driven by team size and days on board. Compare it against the port days it saves at the vessel's hire rate, which is usually the comparison that decides it. There's more on this in our guide to hold cleaning costs.

Can riding crew do maintenance and painting too?

Yes, if planned and equipped for it. On a long passage, the same team can remove loose rust, spot-prime damaged coating and carry out minor coating repairs once the holds are clean and dry. It's an efficient use of a voyage, but the scope must be agreed in advance so the right materials and people are on board. We'll cover hold maintenance in more detail in later guides.

What the ship needs to provide

• Accommodation and meals
• Lifesaving capacity and muster arrangements
• Fresh water for the final rinse (or the means to make it)
• Power and air for equipment
• Access to the holds and permits as required
• A point of contact (usually the Chief Officer)

Planning a riding crew job

The earlier you plan, the cheaper it is. Tell us the vessel, holds, previous and next cargo, required standard, discharge port, load port, route and dates. We'll propose a team size, boarding and disembarkation ports and an equipment list. Start the conversation here, or read more about our riding crew service.