A record-breaking week for the global maritime industry
Posidonia 2026 was busy. Very busy.
More than 35,000 visitors passed through the Athens Metropolitan Expo during the week, with 2,227 exhibitors representing 83 countries and territories. Those figures certainly matched our experience: the halls were full, the conversations kept flowing and there was a real sense of momentum across the international shipping industry.
Representing Beldam Crossley at the show, Lee O’Connor and Gareth Holt thoroughly enjoyed meeting shipowners, operators, ship managers, shipyards, distributors and marine engineering specialists from around the world.
The exhibition gave them the chance to discuss developments affecting chemical, oil and product tankers, including cargo compatibility, vessel maintenance, leakage prevention, environmental performance and the growing importance of dependable, traceable marine sealing products.
There were plenty of serious technical discussions—but also one particularly memorable hands-on product comparison.
When a product sample tells its own story
Trade exhibitions provide a valuable opportunity to see what is available across the market. They also allow engineers and buyers to physically handle products that may look broadly similar in a photograph or online listing.
During Posidonia, Lee and Gareth were shown an alternative marine hatch packing product manufactured by another supplier.
The difference in quality was immediately apparent.
The sample had loose, inconsistent braiding, visible gaps and a construction that offered little confidence that it could maintain a secure, watertight seal. Without conducting formal testing, we would not make a definitive performance judgement—but based on what we could see and feel, it was not a product we would have been comfortable installing on a tanker carrying valuable, hazardous or environmentally sensitive cargo.
Marine hatch packing is not decorative trim. Its purpose is to create and maintain a dependable seal around a tank lid, helping to prevent cargo leakage, control emissions and protect the contents of the tank from contamination.
When the application involves chemicals, hydrocarbons, oils or naphtha, construction quality matters.
As the saying goes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Although, when it comes to tanker hatch seals, we would prefer the imitation to be capable of sealing something.
Why marine hatch packing quality matters
A marine tank hatch seal can be exposed to repeated opening and closing, compression, vibration, weather, saltwater and aggressive cargoes.
A poorly constructed packing may compress unevenly, abrade prematurely or leave potential leakage paths around the hatch. Loose braiding can also indicate inconsistent manufacturing control and may affect how the packing behaves once installed and compressed.
A high-quality tanker hatch packing should provide:
- Consistent construction around its full length
- Reliable compression and recovery
- Resistance to abrasion and repeated hatch movements
- Compatibility with the intended cargo
- An impermeable barrier against liquids and chemicals
- Clear product traceability and technical support
- Suitable testing, certification or industry acceptance
This is why physically inspecting a product—and understanding who manufactured it—is so important.
Genuine Pilot® Lidpack®: manufactured in the UK
Beldam Crossley’s Pilot® Lidpack® marine hatch packing is manufactured in the UK using carefully controlled materials and production processes.
Our Lidpack® range is engineered to provide dependable, long-lasting sealing for marine tank hatches operating in demanding environments. It includes products developed for bulk liquid cargoes, hydrocarbons, chemicals, acids, alkalis, oils and specialist cargoes.
Pilot® Lidpack® 3801L uses an elastomeric core surrounded by polypropylene, spirally wrapped PTFE tape, braided PTFE yarn and outer layers of unsintered PTFE. This layered construction provides chemical resistance, abrasion strength and an impermeable external barrier.
Pilot® Lidpack® 3800 combines an EPDM elastomeric core with PTFE tape, polypropylene and an abrasion-resistant outer PTFE braid. It is designed for marine tank lids carrying bulk liquid and chemical cargoes.
The Beldam Crossley Lidpack® range is the only British-manufactured marine tank hatch packing currently available, supported by nearly 150 years of sealing experience.
For shipowners and operators, genuine UK manufacture also provides something increasingly important: confidence in product origin, material consistency and access to the people who understand how the packing is designed and produced.
What did we learn from Posidonia 2026?
Posidonia confirmed that the marine industry is asking increasingly detailed questions about product performance, compliance, cargo compatibility and supply-chain reliability.
Price will always form part of a purchasing decision. However, the lowest-cost product can become extremely expensive if it contributes to leakage, cargo contamination, unplanned maintenance, vessel downtime or environmental damage.
Our conversations in Athens reinforced the value of giving customers the opportunity to examine packing samples, compare construction quality and speak directly with marine sealing specialists.
A product should not simply look convincing on a website. It should stand up to closer inspection.
Meet Beldam Crossley at Europort Istanbul 2026
Our next opportunity to meet the international maritime community will be Europort Istanbul, taking place from:
Dates: 4–6 November 2026
Venue: Yenikapı Expo Center
Location: Istanbul, Türkiye
Europort Istanbul brings together shipyards, shipowners, vessel operators, marine equipment manufacturers, subcontractors and technology partners from across Türkiye and the wider international shipping market. The 2026 exhibition is expected to welcome more than 150 exhibitors and over 7,000 maritime professionals.
We will be bringing a wide selection of genuine Pilot® Lidpack® marine tank hatch packing samples, giving visitors the chance to get hands-on with the products, inspect their construction and compare the quality for themselves.
Lee and Gareth will also be available to discuss:
- Hatch sealing for chemical, oil and product tankers
- Cargo and chemical compatibility
- Pilot® Lidpack® 3800 and 3801L
- Replacement of existing marine hatch packing
- Approved and tested sealing options
- UK manufacturing and product traceability
- Supply through Beldam Crossley and our trusted Turkish distributor
Sometimes, the quickest way to understand the difference between two products is simply to pick them up.
We look forward to continuing the conversations in Istanbul.
Frequently asked questions
What is marine hatch packing?
Marine hatch packing is a compressible sealing material installed around the lids or access hatches of cargo tanks. It helps create a secure seal that prevents cargo leakage, limits emissions and protects the tank contents from external contamination.
What is Pilot® Lidpack® used for?
Pilot® Lidpack® is used to seal tank lids on chemical tankers, oil tankers, product tankers and other vessels carrying bulk liquid cargoes. Different grades are available depending on the cargo, chemical exposure and operating requirements.
Where is Pilot® Lidpack® manufactured?
Genuine Pilot® Lidpack® is manufactured by Beldam Crossley in the UK. It is the only British-manufactured marine tank hatch packing currently available.
Why is braid quality important in marine hatch packing?
Consistent braiding helps provide strength, abrasion resistance and even performance around the full seal. Loose or irregular braiding may create weak areas, affect compression and reduce confidence in the product’s ability to maintain an effective seal.
When and where is Europort Istanbul 2026?
Europort Istanbul 2026 will take place from 4 to 6 November 2026 at the Yenikapı Expo Center in Istanbul, Türkiye.
Talk to our marine sealing specialists
Could your existing hatch packing be placing cargo integrity, maintenance performance or environmental compliance at risk?
Speak to Beldam Crossley about genuine UK-manufactured Pilot® Lidpack® products, cargo compatibility, replacement packing and technical support for your tanker fleet.
Contact the Beldam Crossley team or meet us at Europort Istanbul from 4–6 November 2026.
