Adjustable penetration cover

Abstract

A cover for covering service penetrations in marine vessels, the cover comprising: a base for removable attachment to a coaming of a service penetration; a lid for preventing items from passing through the service penetration when the lid is in place over the service penetration; and a holder for holding the lid in place over the service penetration at a distance from the coaming to provide a gap for equipment to fit between the coaming and the lid and thus through the service penetration.

Description

ADJUSTABLE PENETRATION COVERRELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The content of Australia provisional patent application no. 2023904069 as filed is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to an adjustable cover, including an adjustable cover for use with marine vessel service penetrations, including service penetrations for cables, pipes and wiring.BACKGROUND

[0003] Marine vessels typically include a shell-like enclosed interior known as a hull, which is covered by a deck or similar. Access to the vessel interior is paramount for successful shipbuilding operations, such as for manufacturing tasks including welding, wiring and assembly.

[0004] Access to the interior of the vessel, for workers and the required cables, pipes and wiring, is typically provided by way of apertures or holes in the hull or deck surfaces. A typical ship may have more than one hundred such apertures. Such apertures are referred to as service penetrations, conventionally being substantially square in shape, with side lengths of around 300mm, and provided upon horizontal surfaces. Penetrations include a raised perimeter or lip, known as a coaming, which prevents water ingress and provides structural stiffness surrounding the penetration. Penetrations are otherwise left completely open, especially during manufacture.

[0005] Service penetrations furnish a range of dangers to workers. It is possible for workers to fall through an open service penetration and become injured or trapped within the interior of the ship. Further still, falling through a penetration may result in the worker becoming injured, especially in the case that manufacturing equipment lays below the penetration. During shipbuilding, it is possible to place boards over the penetrations to prevent falling; however, when the penetration is required for the access of cables or tools, the board is removed, reverting to the dangerous situation described.

[0006] Additional dangers are present during shipbuilding. In particular, workers in the vicinity of a penetration may drop tools and shipbuilding components through the penetration, while working, causing these components to enter the interior of the ship, potentially damaging the ship or manufacturing material and equipment being held therein. Dropped tools and components also pose the risk of striking a worker within the ship’s interior, and the common use of large and heavy tooling and components in shipbuilding serves significant risk of severe injury in this case.

[0007] It is desired to address or ameliorate one or more disadvantages or limitations associated with the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative.SUMMARY

[0008] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cover for covering service penetrations in marine vessels, the cover comprising: at least one base for removable attachment (e.g., by hand and / or hand tools) to a coaming of a service penetration; a lid (e.g., a wooden or plastic board) for preventing items (such as a person's foot or a hand tool) from passing through the service penetration when the lid is in place over the service penetration; and at least one holder for holding the lid in place over the service penetration at a distance from the coaming to provide a gap for equipment (including cables / tubing / pipes) to fit between the coaming and the lid and thus through the service penetration.

[0009] In some embodiments, the base includes at least one foot configured to support the holder by resting on the coaming. The foot may include a clamp with a threaded fastener (e.g., a hand bolt; hand nut; or wingnut), the threaded fastener being fastenable against the coaming. The base may include multiple feet, each of the feet including: a right angle; a C channel; a pin; or a post.

[0010] In some embodiments, the holder includes an adjustable portion such that the lid can be held in different positions relative to the coaming. The adjustable portion may include a slot through which a fastener can extend to releasably fasten the lid relative to the slot such that the lid can be adjusted vertically and / or rotationally relative to the base. The adjustable portion may further include tabs that limit rotation of the lid relative to the base (e.g., to + / - 45 degrees). Theholder may include a C clamp having: a lower jaw extending further than an upper jaw to support the lid; the upper jaw being movable toward the lower jaw to clamp the lid therebetween.

[0011] In some embodiments, the cover further comprises a flexible skirt extending down from the lid over at least a portion of the gap so that the skirt resists items entering the gap whilst allowing equipment to fit past the skirt. The flexible skirt may include multiple flaps such that equipment can fit between the flaps. The flexible skirt may comprise a resilient ( / flexible) material (e.g., rubber) that allows the skirt to resist the items entering the gap while allowing the equipment to fit past the skirt. The flexible skirt may extend along one side of the coaming, or along two opposed sides of the coaming, including along sides of the coaming to which the base is not attached.

[0012] In some embodiments, the base is a first base and the holder is a first holder, and the cover further comprises a second base and a second holder, the second base for removable attachment to the coaming at a position substantially opposite the first base and the second holder for holding the lid at a position substantially opposite the first holder.

[0013] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for manufacturing a cover, the method comprising the steps of: providing a base for removable attachment to a coaming of a service penetration, the base having an integral holder for holding a lid in place over the service penetration; welding a foot to said base, the foot being configured to support the holder by resting on the coaming; and tapping a hole in said foot for fastening a threaded fastener therethrough to clamp the base to the coaming.

[0014] In some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of machining an adjustment portion in the holder, the adjustment portion for adjusting the lid vertically and rotationally relative to the base. The lid may be cut from steel plate to at least substantially cover the penetration when the lid is in place thereover. The method may further comprise the step of affixing, to the holder, a C clamp having an upper jaw movable a lower jaw for clamping the lid therebetween. The C clamp may be affixed to the holder by a fastener threaded through the adjustment portion thereof.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Some embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of nonlimiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Figure l is a perspective view drawing of a cover as disclosed herein;Figure 2 is a front view drawing of the cover of Figure 1;Figure 3 is a perspective view drawing of the cover of Figure 1 from a different angle;Figure 4 is an isometric drawing of a cover as disclosed herein, with a transparent lid to show the C clamp lower jaw;Figure 5 is an isometric drawing of the cover of Figure 4 further comprising a flexible skirt;Figure 6 is an isometric drawing of the cover of Figure 4 having a second base and second holder;Figure 7 is a front view drawing of a portion of the cover of Figure 4;Figure 8 is a side view drawing of a portion of the cover of Figure 4;Figure 9 is a manufacturing drawing of a portion of a holder of the cover of Figure 4;Figure 10 is a manufacturing drawing of a portion of the holder of Figure 9;Figure 11 is a manufacturing drawing of a foot of the cover of Figure 4; andFigure 12 is a flow chart of a method for manufacturing a cover as disclosed herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Figure 1 shows a cover 100 for covering a service penetration 200 in a marine vessel. As shown in Figure 1, the cover 100 includes: a base 10 for removable attachment to a coaming 300 of the service penetration 200; a lid 18 for preventing items I (not shown) from passing through the service penetration 200 when the lid 18 is in place over the service penetration 200; and a holder 20 for holding the lid 18 in place over the service penetration 200 at a distance from the coaming 300 to provide a gap G for equipment E to fit between the coaming 300 and the lid 18 and thus through the service penetration 200.

[0017] The base 10 includes at least one foot 12 configured to support the holder 20 by resting on the coaming 300.

[0018] To allow for the attachment to the coaming 300, the base 10 includes a foot 12 which is placed over the coaming 300 and is configured to rest thereagainst to support the cover 100 in an upright position. When in use, as shown in Figure 3, the foot 12 extends downwardly from the cover 100, and rests against the coaming 300. The foot 12 rests against at least one of a top surface, an inside surface and an outer surface of the coaming 300, and optionally rests against the surface 400 of the ship surrounding the coaming 300 (e.g., the foot 12 may need to rest against the surface 400 of the ship, to resist gravity, if the foot is not resting on the top surface, and is not tightly clamped to the opposed inside and outside surfaces).

[0019] As shown in Figure 6, the base may include multiple feet 12 (e.g., two feet 12). The or each of the feet 12 may include: a right angle (e.g., steel angle); a C channel (as shown in Figure 3); a pin (e.g., a cylindrical retaining pin); or a post (e.g., a square cross section retaining post).

[0020] Each of the feet 12 is shaped to support the cover 100 by resting on the coaming 300. The foot 12 is shaped such that it is sufficient to support the cover 100. Preferably, the cover 100 and its components are made from steel, preferably steel plate being 5 mm in thickness. This material is suitable due to its strength, ability to be coated in high-visibility paints and / or coatings, and because it is, at least typically, a readily available material in the shipbuilding industry, and a material with which workers are familiar and can therefore use in fabrication with relative ease. The cover 100 and its components need not, however, be made from steel, and may instead be of any other suitably strong material.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, the foot 12 may include a clamp 14 ("foot clamp") with a threaded fastener 16, the threaded fastener 16 being fastenable against the coaming 300. Thus, the base 10 further includes the (foot) clamp 14 for further securement of the cover 100 proximate the penetration 200, generally attached to the coaming 300 of the penetration 200. The clamp 14 includes a threaded fastener 16, which fastens through a corresponding threaded aperture in a corresponding portion of the cover 100. The threaded fastener 16 may sit outside of the coaming 300 in use, thus being more accessible for tightening and loosening. When fastened therethrough, the clamp 14 pulls the foot 12 against the inside wall of the coaming 300. In this way, the clamp 12 allows a strong attachment of the base 10 to the coaming 300, preventing movement andaccidental release of the base 10 from the coaming 300. As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the clamp 14 may be removed by untightening / loosening the fastener 16, by which the base 10 is wholly removable from its attachment to the coaming 300 by lifting the cover 100. The cover 100 is of a weight which allows it to be lifted and removed from the coaming 300 by hand. The fastener 16 is preferably a wing nut, tightening knob or other mechanism capable of being tightened by hand. The fastener 16 need not, however, include such a mechanism, and may instead be configured for tightening with a standard tool, for example a hex nut being tightenable by a spanner or wrench, as is shown in the Figures.

[0022] The cover 100 also includes a lid 18, the lid being provided for preventing items I from passing through the service penetration 200. What is meant by items I is objects which are not intended to pass through the penetration 200, such as workers, dropped tools, dropped manufacturing, service or repair equipment and / or materials. In place, the lid 18 is positioned over and above the penetration 200 to substantially cover it. The lid 18 is preferably substantially the same size or of a greater size than the size of the penetration 200, e.g., with an overhang of substantially 5% to 20% from at least one side / edge of the coaming 300. The lid 18 is intended to be replaceable and can be sourced from scrap materials used in shipbuilding. In the Figures, the lid 18 is a rectangular piece of plywood, but may instead by any suitable rigid material such as, for example, fibreboard, timber or other engineered wood panels, or steel, aluminium, or other metal sheets. The lid 18 preferably includes a relatively thin piece of material. The lid 18 should be thick enough, however, to support the weight of a worker to prevent failure in the case the cover 100 is stepped on or fallen onto. Where hot work (such as welding or plasma cutting) is taking place proximate the service penetration 200, the lid may preferably include a steel plate of at least 3mm thickness is used as the lid 18. Exemplary embodiments feature a high visibility lid 18. What is meant by this is that the lid 18 includes elements which allow it to be easily seen by contrasting against the surroundings. To this end, a preferable lid 18 includes a fluorescent or brightly coloured painting or coating (such as adhesive tape or vinyl). Each of the other components of the cover 100, including the base 10 and holder 20, can include similar high visibility painting or coating.

[0023] To position the lid 18 as described, the cover 100 additionally comprises a holder 20. The holder 20 is for holding the lid 18 in place over the service penetration 200. The holder 20 is configured to hold the lid 18 at a distance from the coaming 300 to provide a gap G for equipment E to fit between the coaming 300 and the lid 18 and thus through the service penetration 200. Inthis way, the lid 18 is positioned above the penetration 200 but not against the coaming 300. Equipment E may include relevant cables, pipes, tubes and wiring, such as that required for welding operations, but is limited only to objects which are intended to pass through the penetration 200. To achieve the required holding of the lid 18, the holder 20 can be seen to extend upwardly from the base 10, substantially parallel to the coaming 300 / perpendicular to the penetration 200. The holder 20 may be integral to the base 10, and / or made of like materials, preferably steel.

[0024] The holder 20 may include an adjustable portion 22 such that the lid 18 can be held in two or more mutually different positions relative to the coaming 300, e.g., at a selectable angle and height relative to the coaming 300.

[0025] Figure 8 shows the adjustable portion 22 which allows adjustable of the position in which the holder 20 holds the lid 18. The adjustable portion 22 is provided such that adjustment of the holder 20 relative the adjustable portion 22 can hold the lid 18 in different positions relative to the coaming 300. Primarily, the adjustable portion 22 can be adjusted vertically to raise and lower than lid 18 relative the coaming 300, thus increasing or decreasing the gap G for equipment E to fit between.

[0026] The adjustable portion 22 includes a slot 24 through which a fastener 26 can extend to releasably fasten the lid 18 relative to the slot 24 such that: (a) the lid 18 can be adjusted vertically and rotationally relative to the base 10 while the fastener 26 is unfastened; and (b) the lid 18 is fixed relative to the base 10 when the fastener 26 is tightened.

[0027] The adjustable portion 22 is provided by way of the slot 24 running through the holder 20 but may be provided by any suitable geometry in the holder 20, such as by rungs or tabs. As shown in Figure 7, the slot fastener 26 can extend through the slot 24, and releasably fasten the lid 18 relative to the slot 24 at the selected angle and height. The slot fastener 26 may include a washer and nut for tightening. The slot 24 and slot fastener 26 additionally provide a rotational freedom to the position of the lid 18, whereby the lid 18 is free to rotate relative to the base 10 before the slot fastener 26 is fastened. This rotational freedom allows the lid 18 to be positioned at the selected incline by which the lid 18 has one end (e.g., a first side) in contact with the coaming 300, and the other end (e.g., a second side opposite the first side) providing the gap G.

[0028] The adjustable portion 22 may further include tabs 28 that limit rotation of the lid 18 relative to the base 10.

[0029] The rotation tabs 28 on the holder 20 extend from the holder 20 to contact the lid 18. The rotation tabs 28 are configured to limit the amount of rotational freedom provided by the slot 24 and fastener 26, whereby, when the lid 18 is rotated to a maximum desired angle, such as for example 45 degrees, the tabs 28 contact the lid 18 preventing further rotation. Preferably, the tabs 28 limit the maximum rotated angle of the lid 18 to between 30 and 50 degrees; however, the position of the tabs 28 can be configured to limit the maximum rotated angle of the lid 18 to any selected angle. The holder 20 may have a rounded upper portion 30, as shown in Figure 1, provided to prevent injury to workers in the case they accidentally impact / contact the holder 20 during use.

[0030] As shown in Figure 3, the holder 20 can include a C clamp 32 having: a lower jaw 34 extending further than an upper jaw 36 to support the lid 18, the upper jaw 36 being movable toward the lower jaw 34 to clamp the lid 18 therebetween. The C clamp 32 may therefore clamp lids of mutually different heights / thicknesses by the movement of the upper jaw 36.

[0031] As shown in Figure 7, the holder 20 includes a C clamp 32 to clamp the lid 18. The C clamp 32 has a lower jaw 34 which extends from the holder 20 in the direction of the centre of the penetration 200 when in use. The lower jaw 34 bears the weight of the lid 18. At the other jaw, the upper jaw 36, the C clamp 32 extends less as far as the lower jaw 34 and includes an adjuster 38 for receiving the lid 18. In some embodiments, the lower jaw 34 may include 2 adjusters 38. Shown in Figures 2 and 3, the adjuster may be in the form of a bolt. The adjuster 38 of the upper jaw 36 is adjustable to receive variable heights of lids 18 (to account for the variable material with which the lid 18 may be made) and is able to be closed to secure the lid 18 between the jaws 34, 36, allowing the holder 20 to hold the lid 18. The adjuster 38 applies a downward force on the lid 18 when in use, and the lower jaw 34 applies an opposed upward force. The opposed forces clamp the lid 18. The lower jaw 34 also supports the lid 18 against gravity, thus the lower jaw 34 extends further over the penetration 200 then the upper jaw 36 or the adjuster 38 to account for the additional weight it supports. Closure of the C clamp 32 in the embodiments shown comprises a threaded fastener as the adjuster 38 which extends through the upper jaw 36 and is fastenable downwardly to make contact with the lid 18.

[0032] As shown in Figure 5, the cover 100 may further comprise a flexible skirt 40 extending down from the lid 18 over at least a portion of the gap G so that the skirt 40 resists items I entering the gap G whilst allowing equipment E to fit past the skirt 40.

[0033] As shown in Figure 5, the flexible skirt 40 extends downwardly, from an outer edge of the lid 18, to cover over at least a portion of the gap G between the lid 18 and the coaming 300.

[0034] The flexible skirt 40 can include multiple flaps 42 such that equipment E can fit between the flaps 42.

[0035] The inclusion of the multiple flaps 42 in the skirt 40 allows equipment E to fit between pairs of the flaps 42 by movement of the flaps 42 out of the way of the equipment E. In this way, the skirt 40 can be seen to act similarly to 'strip' curtains. The skirt 40 may be provided as a single continuous flap or as a single concertina flap.

[0036] The flexible skirt 40 includes resilient material that allows the skirt 40 to resist the items I entering the gap G while allowing the equipment E to fit past the skirt 40.

[0037] The skirt 40 is a made from a resilient and flexible material that allows the skirt 40 to resist items I entering the gap G, but which can be moved out of the way of equipment E such that the equipment E fits past the flaps 42 of the skirt 40. In the preferred embodiment, the skirt 40 is made from rubber sheets, but may instead comprise PVC or another suitably flexible and resilient material.

[0038] As shown in Figure 5, the flexible skirt 40 can extend along one side of the coaming 300, or along two or more opposed sides of the coaming 300, including along sides of the coaming 300 to which the base 10 is not attached.

[0039] The skirt 40 shown in Figure 5 extends from two of the sides of the lid 18 to cover two corresponding sides of the coaming 300. The skirt 40 may extend along any number of, or a portion of any number of, sides of the coaming 300. Preferably, the skirt 40 extends along and substantially covers the gap G of at least one side of the coaming 300, two or more sides of the coaming 300, or every side of the coaming 300.

[0040] The cover 100 may further include a second base 10A and a second holder 20 A, the second base 10A for removable attachment to the coaming 300 at a position substantially oppositethe first base 10. The second holder 20A for holding the lid at a position substantially opposite the first holder 20.

[0041] Figure 6 illustrates a cover 100 in which is included a second base 10A and a second holder 20A. In this embodiment, the second base 10B is attached to an opposite side of the coaming 300. The second holder 20A is provided for holding the lid 18 substantially opposite the first holder 20, and thus providing a second support for the lid 18 being held. Such an arrangement provides additional support or strength to the cover 100, and allows it to better resist the force of an item I being dropped or placed onto its lid 18.

[0042] A method 400 for manufacturing (and assembling) the cover 100 will now be described with reference to Figure 12.

[0043] In a first step 410, the base 10 is provided for removable attachment to one of the coamings 300 of the service penetrations 200. The base 10 and the holder 20 are preferably the same piece (thus the base 10 and the holder 20 may be referred to as "integral"), e.g., cut from a single piece of steel plate, e.g., plasma cut.

[0044] In a second step 420, the foot 12 is attached to the base 10. Preferably, the foot 12 is a right-angle steel plate, and is welded to the integral steel base 10 and holder 20, e.g., by MIG or Arc welding.

[0045] In a third step 420, the hole is tapped in the foot 12 for fastening the threaded fastener 14 therethrough. The hole is first drilled through a portion of the foot 12, before being tapped with threads. The resultant tapped threads of the hole are for fastening the threaded fastener 14 through.

[0046] The method may also include a step 440 of machining the adjustable portion 22 in the holder 20. The adjustable portion 22 can be machined into the holder 20 such that the adjustable portion 22 is in the form a slot 24. Alternatively, instead of machining the adjustable portion 22 into the holder 20 in step 440, the adjustable portion 22 may be cut from the single piece of steel plate in step 410.

[0047] The method may also include a step 450, where the C clamp 32 (already including the upper jaw 36 and the lower jaw 34) is affixed to the holder 20. The C clamp 32 can be affixed to the holder 20 by the adjuster 38 threaded through the adjustable portion 22 thereof.

[0048] The method includes a step 460, where the lid 18 is clamped into the C clamp 32. The lid 18 can be provided, e.g., cut from any suitable material and is preferably cut to align with or extend further than the coaming 300 at each side / edge of the coaming 300, as described. The lid 18 can be cut by any suitable method, including, for example, by hand shears, a jig saw or a plasma cutter.

[0049] The cover 100 may provide several effects when used with service penetrations in marine vessels. For example, the base 10 is removably attachable to the coaming 300 of a service penetration 200, and the cover 100 can easily be installed and removed from coamings 300, and thus used across multiple penetrations 200 during shipbuilding manufacture, service and / or repair processes. The lid 18 can prevent items I from falling through the penetration 200, permit access for equipment E via a gap G created by the lid 18 being held over the penetrations 200 at a distance from the coaming 300 by its holder 20. The cover 100 may improve safe and timely construction of ships.

[0050] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.

[0051] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavor to which this specification relates.

[0052] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word ‘comprise’, and variations such as ‘comprises’ and ‘comprising’, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0053] The presence of " / " in a FIG. or text herein is understood to mean "and / or" unless otherwise indicated, i.e., “A / B” is understood to mean “A, or B, or both A and B”. The recitationof a particular numerical value or value range herein is understood to include or be a recitation of an approximate numerical value or value range, for instance, within + / - 20%, + / - 15%, + / - 10%, + / - 5%, + / -2.5%, + / - 2%, + / - 1%, + / - 0.5%, or + / - 0%. The term "substantially" can indicate a percentage greater than or equal to 80% or 90%, for instance, 92.5%, 95%, 97.5%, 99%, or 100%. The term "proximate" can mean "close to" or "on", including directly in contact with, on, above or next to, depending on the context.LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A cover for covering service penetrations in marine vessels, the cover comprising: at least one base for removable attachment to a coaming of a service penetration; a lid for preventing items from passing through the service penetration when the lid is in place over the service penetration; and at least one holder for holding the lid in place over the service penetration at a distance from the coaming to provide a gap for equipment to fit between the coaming and the lid and thus through the service penetration.

2. The cover according to claim 1, wherein the base includes at least one foot configured to support the holder by resting on the coaming.

3. The cover according to claim 2, wherein the foot includes a clamp with a threaded fastener, the threaded fastener being fastenable against the coaming.

4. The cover according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the base includes multiple feet, each of the feet including: a right angle; a C channel; a pin; or a post.

5. The cover according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holder includes an adjustable portion such that the lid can be held in different positions relative to the coaming.

6. The cover according to claim 5, wherein the adjustable portion includes a slot through which a fastener can extend to releasably fasten the lid relative to the slot such that the lid can be adjusted vertically and / or rotationally relative to the base.

7. The cover according to claim 6, the adjustable portion further including tabs that limit rotation of the lid relative to the base.

8. The cover according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holder includes a C clamp having: a lower jaw extending further than an upper jaw to support the lid, the upper jaw being movable toward the lower jaw to clamp the lid therebetween.

9. The cover according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a flexible skirt extending down from the lid over at least a portion of the gap so that the skirt resists items entering the gap whilst allowing equipment to fit past the skirt.

10. The cover according to claim 9, wherein the flexible skirt includes multiple flaps such that equipment can fit between the flaps.

11. The cover according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the flexible skirt comprises a resilient material that allows the skirt to resist the items entering the gap while allowing the equipment to fit past the skirt.

12. The cover according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the flexible skirt extends along one side of the coaming, or along two opposed sides of the coaming, including along sides of the coaming to which the base is not attached.

13. The cover according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base is a first base and the holder is a first holder, the cover further comprising a second base and a second holder, the second base for removable attachment to the coaming at a position substantially opposite the first base and the second holder for holding the lid at a position substantially opposite the first holder.

14. A method for manufacturing a cover for covering service penetrations in marine vessels, the method comprising: providing a base for removable attachment to a coaming of a service penetration, the base having an integral holder for holding a lid in place over the service penetration; welding a foot to said base, the foot being configured to support the holder by resting on the coaming; and tapping a hole in said foot for fastening a threaded fastener therethrough to clamp the base to the coaming.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method further comprises machining an adjustable portion in the holder, the adjustable portion for adjusting the lid vertically and / orrotationally relative to the base.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the lid is cut from steel plate to at least substantially cover the penetration when the lid is in place thereover.

17. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, further comprising affixing, to the holder, a C clamp having an upper jaw movable toward a lower jaw for clamping the lid therebetween.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the C clamp is affixed to the holder by an adjuster threaded through the adjustment portion thereof.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the lid is clamped into the C clamp to position the lid to substantially cover the service penetration.

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