Abstract: Relocation of the guide and control system for a seawater ballast/cargo oil, horizontal separation diaphragm, from the lower portion of the cargo tank of an oil tanker to the main deck level, with a corresponding increase in the length of the diaphragm membrane and the guide cylinder, thereby allowing the diaphragm full travel from top to bottom of the tank and vice versa. This relocation enables the total volume of the cargo tank to be utilized for the carriage of two different liquids, at different times, without cross-contamination occurring between the cargo being carried and any residue remaining at in the tank from the previous cargo e.g. a marine very large crude oil carrier (VLCC) fitted with a diaphragm in each of its cargo tanks, could carry a full cargo of crude oil from the Arabian Gulf to Europe or Japan and return with a full cargo of fresh water for industrial or agricultural use.

Abstract: A plurality of narrow ballast tanks arranged around the periphery of diaphragms. The peripheral ballast tanks facilitate the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of the diaphragms that segregate the cargo oil from the ballast water in the oil tanker in which they are fitted. The peripheral ballast tanks in general are built along the longitudinal and transverse bulkheads and ship's sides, but they can also be arranged to sub-divide the lower portion of large cargo tanks, they, in effect, form a tank grid about the lower portion of the cargo tanks' space, with the cells in the grid being suitable for the reception of the diaphragms.

Abstract: A system whereby use is made of a double bottom tank, in fluid communication with a bag made of reinforced elastomeric material to provide segregated ballast space in the cargo space of a ship. The double bottom space and bag are filled with ballast water when the cargo space is empty, thereby making use of the cargo space in which the bag is located to carry ballast water in space previously occupied by cargo, without having any cross-contamination of the ballast water by the cargo residues or gases. The outward and upward movement of the bag is restricted by a rigid guide cage. An open, or partially open, topped rigid container is placed around the guide cage to restrict the "free surface effect" of the ballast water in the unlikely event of failure of the ballast bag. A header tank is provided to keep a positive pressure head on the water in the bag when in the ballast condition. A semi-flexible float assists in guiding the bag during ballasting and de-ballasting operations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering oil spills on water comprising surrounding an oil spill with booms attached to a recovery vessel having sluice gate openings in its bow and then moving the vessel into the oil spill while applying pumping suction action at the openings to draw the oil into the vessel. The oil and any water entering the vessel with the oil is directed along a horizontally disposed and heated conduit where the oil is allowed to seek its natural level above the water. Baffle means are provided along the conduit to entrap the oil above the water from whence the oil is drawn off to a storage and settling tank. A U bend is formed in the conduit to recover any remaining oil in the system before the water is discharged from the vessel.

Abstract: A special type of tank that can be built into or placed in the cargo space of a ship to contain ballast water or another liquid without cross-contamination with the cargo residues, i.e. allowing for the carriage of segregated ballast in the cargo space. Allowance is also made for double-bottom space in the ship's loaded condition. A large part of the top, or lid, of the special tank is movable in a vertical direction from the highest part of the tank to the lowest part of the tank and special machinery and safety devices are fitted to expedite this movement. A rubber or flexible fabric sheet, which is watertight, connects the moveable and stationary part of the tank top and divides the tank into an upper and a lower section between which there is no communication. The flexible sheet is designed to take the internal contours of the inner tank when the cargo is loaded.