Hold Block Slip Coat for Cargo Hold Cleaning at Sohar Port
October 25, 2026
If your next cargo is sulphur, salt, petcoke or coal, a slip coat for cargo hold surfaces stops the cargo bonding to the steel. Our Slip Barrier Coats HOLD BLOCK is the product we supply for this to vessels at Sohar Port. HOLD BLOCK is a polymer emulsion based, non reactive coating that dries to a thin barrier film on the hold surface. You spray it on before loading, the cargo rests on the film and not on the steel, and after discharge the film and residue wash off with high pressure water. On a smooth hold our recommended dose for sulphur and salt is 100 Ltrs/Hold for HANDYMAX and 150 Ltrs/Hold for PANAMAX. For petcoke and coal it rises to 200 Ltrs/Hold for HANDYMAX and 250 Ltrs/Hold for PANAMAX.
Why sulphur, salt, petcoke and coal are hard on a cargo hold
Corrosive dry bulk cargoes attack bare and painted steel. Sulphur forms strong acid when moisture and heat are present. That acid eats into hold plating and paint during the voyage. Salt draws in moisture and keeps the steel wet under the cargo, which speeds up rusting.
Petcoke and coal cause a different problem. The fine dust packs into rough or pitted paint and stains the hold walls. After discharge your crew can spend days scraping and washing before the hold passes inspection for the next cargo. Every extra day at the berth costs the owner and delays the charterer.
Many ships have used lime wash for these cargoes. Lime wash has to be fully removed afterwards, and removing it is slow, heavy work in a large hold. HOLD BLOCK is a polymer alternative that comes off with a water hold wash and needs no scraping.
What HOLD BLOCK does on the hold surface
HOLD BLOCK is a heavy duty protective coating for the holds of vessels that carry corrosive or messy cargoes such as sulphur, salt, petcoke, coal and concentrates. It is a water soluble polymerised product. Once dry, it forms a thin, water resistant barrier film on metal and painted surfaces. The film sits between the cargo and the hold, so the cargo cannot deposit directly on the steel. It also protects the surface from the corrosive by-products of the cargo.
The product record lists these features:
- Protects metal against corrosive cargo.
- Protects paint against cargo penetration.
- Safe on all coatings, and to the personnel handling it.
- Environmentally friendly.
- Safe to use in occupied or covered areas.
- Reduces turnaround times.
- Easy to direct spray.
HOLD BLOCK is suitable for both sulphur and petcoke cargoes. On older holds where the paint has become porous or rough, it also gives a smoother surface for the cargo to slide off. Full product details for the 210 litre grade are on the HOLD BLOCK slip barrier coat product page.
Dosage and coverage per hold
Base your order on the vessel size and the cargo. These are the recommended doses for a smooth surface:
- For sulphur, salt, etc: 100 Ltrs/Hold for HANDYMAX and 150 Ltrs/Hold for PANAMAX.
- For petcoke, coal, etc: 200 Ltrs/Hold for HANDYMAX and 250 Ltrs/Hold for PANAMAX.
For a whole ship, a HANDYMAX (5 Holds) generally needs 500 Ltr to 1000 Ltr of RXSOL-22-2210-210, which is approx 1/2 drum to 1 drum for each hold. A PANAMAX (7 Holds) generally needs 1000 Ltr to 2000 Ltrs to cover the full area, which is approx 3/4 drum to 1.25 drums for each hold.
On a smooth, clean surface, each 210 ltrs drum covers 2000 to 2500 sq meter. Rough and rusted surfaces need more material, so add to the order if your holds are in poor condition. Send us the vessel type, number of holds and next cargo, and we will confirm the quantity in your quote.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Part number | RXSOL-22-2210-210, RXSOL-22-2210-025, RXSOL-22-2210-050 |
| Product type | Polymer emulsion based, non reactive coating that dries to a thin barrier film |
| Application | Cargo holds of vessels carrying corrosive or messy cargoes such as sulphur, salt, petcoke, coal and concentrates |
| Dosage, sulphur and salt | 100 Ltrs/Hold for HANDYMAX, 150 Ltrs/Hold for PANAMAX (smooth surface) |
| Dosage, petcoke and coal | 200 Ltrs/Hold for HANDYMAX, 250 Ltrs/Hold for PANAMAX (smooth surface) |
| Whole vessel | HANDYMAX (5 Holds): 500 Ltr to 1000 Ltr. PANAMAX (7 Holds): 1000 Ltr to 2000 Ltrs |
| Coverage | Each drum of 210 ltrs covers 2000 to 2500 sq meter on a smooth and clean surface. Rough and rusted surfaces need more |
| Method | Used directly with a low pressure machine or manually with a garden spray pump |
| Removal | High pressure water hold wash, with RXSOL ALKALINE DETERGENT for cargo residue |
| Packing | 210 ltrs drum (RXSOL-22-2210-210). RXSOL-22-2210-025 and RXSOL-22-2210-050 are also listed; packing confirmed on quote |
How to apply HOLD BLOCK and wash it off
Prepare the hold first. Remove all deposits of the previous cargo and any lime wash. If the hold has been newly painted, the paint must be fully cured before you apply HOLD BLOCK.
HOLD BLOCK is used directly from the drum, without dilution. Spray it over the whole hold surface with a low pressure machine, or manually with a garden spray pump. It goes on like a lubricant. Let it dry so the barrier film forms before you start loading.
After discharge, wash the hold with water. A high pressure water wash removes the HOLD BLOCK film and the cargo with it. If you apply our RXSOL ALKALINE DETERGENT to the treated surface, the cargo residue comes off without extra manual force. For holds that carried cement, we also supply Cement Remover RX Hold, a concentrated penetrating agent that loosens the cement bond and works best on dry cement. Its part numbers are RXSOL-22-2202-025, RXSOL-22-2202-020, RXSOL-22-2202-050, RXSOL-22-2202-035 and RXSOL-22-2202-210.
The emulsion is safe to use, but as a precaution goggles and protective gloves with a mask are required before use of this material. Your crew should follow the ship's own hold cleaning procedures and wear the PPE those procedures set for working at tank top level.
Hold preparation for vessels at Sohar Port
Sohar Port handles dry bulk for the steel, aluminium, refinery and petrochemical plants in Sohar industrial zone. Ships load and discharge there in tight laytime windows. A hold that comes out of a sulphur or petcoke voyage already coated with HOLD BLOCK needs far less cleaning before the next cargo. That shortens the cleaning period and lowers the risk of a failed hold inspection.
Superintendents, ship agents and chandlers in Sohar usually order HOLD BLOCK in one of two ways. Some have it delivered alongside so the crew can spray before loading. Others put it on board as stores for a voyage where the crew will coat the holds before the next corrosive cargo. If you are ordering for a whole fleet, our HOLD BLOCK listing RXSOL-22-2210-025 and listing RXSOL-22-2210-050 are listed alongside the 210 ltrs drum, and we can quote all three together.
If the same vessel calls at Port Sultan Qaboos or other Muscat area berths, you can order the same product through our Muscat page for HOLD BLOCK slip barrier coat. For ships working out of the south of Oman, the HOLD BLOCK listing on our Salalah site covers the same part number.
Packing and delivery from Barka
HOLD BLOCK RXSOL-22-2210-210 comes in 210 ltrs drums. That size fits the per hold doses above: approx 1/2 drum to 1 drum for each HANDYMAX hold. RXSOL-22-2210-025 and RXSOL-22-2210-050 are also listed. We confirm the packing for each when we quote.
We deliver from our Barka warehouse to Sohar and the wider Al Batinah coast. Give us the vessel name, ETA and berth when you order, so we can plan delivery around your loading schedule.
Where to buy HOLD BLOCK in Sohar
Sohar Chemical (RXSOL group, Oman) supplies HOLD BLOCK slip coat and other hold cleaning chemicals from our Barka warehouse, with deliveries to Sohar and Al Batinah. Call +968 99489269, message us on WhatsApp at +968 99489269, or email muscatchem@gmail.com. You can also send your requirement through our Sohar Chemical quote request form. To see the other deck and hold maintenance chemicals we carry, browse our full product range.
Frequently asked questions
How much HOLD BLOCK do I need for a PANAMAX carrying petcoke?
On a smooth surface the recommended dose is 250 Ltrs/Hold for PANAMAX on petcoke or coal. For the whole vessel, a PANAMAX (7 Holds) generally needs 1000 Ltr to 2000 Ltrs. Rough or rusted holds need more.
Do I have to remove lime wash before applying HOLD BLOCK?
Yes. Remove deposits of the previous cargo and any lime wash before you apply it. Newly painted surfaces must also be fully cured.
How is HOLD BLOCK removed after discharge?
Wash the hold with water. High pressure water removes the film. Applying RXSOL ALKALINE DETERGENT to the treated surface lifts the cargo residue without extra manual force.
Does HOLD BLOCK need special spray equipment?
No. It is used directly with a low pressure machine or manually with a garden spray pump.
What PPE should the crew wear?
The emulsion is safe to use, but as a precaution goggles and protective gloves with a mask are required before use.
Request a quote for HOLD BLOCK slip coat for your vessel at Sohar Port on WhatsApp at +968 99489269.
Frequently asked questions
How much HOLD BLOCK do I need for a PANAMAX carrying petcoke?
On a smooth surface the recommended dose is 250 Ltrs/Hold for PANAMAX on petcoke or coal. For the whole vessel, a PANAMAX (7 Holds) generally needs 1000 Ltr to 2000 Ltrs. Rough or rusted holds need more.
Do I have to remove lime wash before applying HOLD BLOCK?
Yes. Remove deposits of the previous cargo and any lime wash before you apply it. Newly painted surfaces must also be fully cured.
How is HOLD BLOCK removed after discharge?
Wash the hold with water. High pressure water removes the film. Applying RXSOL ALKALINE DETERGENT to the treated surface lifts the cargo residue without extra manual force.
Does HOLD BLOCK need special spray equipment?
No. It is used directly with a low pressure machine or manually with a garden spray pump.
What PPE should the crew wear?
The emulsion is safe to use, but as a precaution goggles and protective gloves with a mask are required before use.
