Abstract: An improved landing craft includes a hull that supports bow and stern ramps for enabling vehicles to drive through during loading and unloading. The drive-through arrangement also enables the crew to load and unload the craft much faster and more easily than existing vessels. A ballasting arrangement can be used to trim the hull when it is to be beached or to be extracted and/or during loading/unloading.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for shipping a reel (1) onboard a ship (2) where the reel (1) is at least partly placed into a cargo space (3) of the ship. The arrangement comprises a reel holder (4), which holds the reel (1) placed therein substantially in position at least in the horizontal and downward direction, and the reel holder (4) is arranged onto a tweendeck (5) in the ship's cargo space (3) that is placed at a distance from the bottom (6) of the ship's cargo space, closer to the metacentre of the ship (2) than to the bottom (6) of the ship. The invention also relates to a tweendeck to be used as a transport support for the reel (1) in sea transport and to a tweendeck arrangement in the ship's cargo space (3).

Abstract: The methods and apparatus for transporting compressed gas includes a gas storage system having a plurality of pipes connected by a manifold whereby the gas storage system is designed to operate in the range of the optimum compressibility factor for a given composition of gas. The pipe for the gas storage system is preferably large diameter pipe made of a high strength material whereby a low temperature is selected which can be withstood by the material of the pipe. Knowing the compressibility factor of the gas, the temperature, and the diameter of the pipe, the wall thickness of the pipe may be calculated for the pressure range of the gas at the selected temperature. The gas storage system may either be modular or be part of the structure of a vessel for transporting the gas to the storage system. Since the pipe provides a bulkhead around the gas, the gas storage system may be used in a single hull vessel. The gas storage system further includes enclosing the pipes in a nitrogen atmosphere.

Abstract: A non-permeable bladder is used for transporting oil within a steel compartment onboard an oil tanker. The bladder is contained within a meso-skeleton suspended within the individual metal tank which causes any force which would otherwise puncture the bladder, to be spread evenly over the exterior of the bladder and causes the fluid within the bladder to be expelled through a check valve into one or more smaller containers which can either be maintained onboard the oil tanker or forced into the water through which the tanker had been moving.

Abstract: The invention concerns an autonomous container ship comprising a bottom, a propulsion system, a loading and unloading system for loading and unloading containers, a balancing system, characterized in that the bottom has a hull incorporating a propulsion system and the ship comprises a carrying system for transporting containers from important ports equipped with facilities for loading and unloading containers to small ports not provided with such equipment and less than 4 meters deep. The ship includes a propulsion system ensuring the ship's cruising speed on the high seas and its speed in estuaries and ports, a loading and unloading system adapted to ports not provided with appropriate equipment, and a balancing system for balancing the ship at sea providing stability and trim during container handling operations.

Abstract: A method of seismic surveying and seismic data processing using a plurality of simultaneously recorded seismic-energy sources. An activation sequence for each of said plurality of seismic energy sources may be determined such that energy from seismic sources may be recorded simultaneously and seismic energy responsive to individual seismic sources separated into separate source records. The seismic sources are activated using an activation sequence, the recorded seismic energy in the shot recordings may be separated into source recordings responsive to individual seismic sources. The source records may be derived from the shot records using a combination of shot record summations, inversions and filtering.

Abstract: A palletizing system includes a reusable pallet and a reusable anchoring device for securing a load. The anchoring device comprises a strap and clamping mechanism for selectively receiving and clamping to the strap and, alternatively, releasing the strap. The pallet includes a base and one or more housings fixed to the base for receiving the clamping mechanism. Each housing has an opening for receiving the clamping mechanism and providing access to the clamping mechanism so that the clamping mechanism can be manipulated in the housing, and an aperture for receiving the strap, the aperture being sized to prevent the clamping mechanism from passing through the aperture.

Abstract: Device for ships having at least one ship's ramp (2) which at an inner end (3) is pivotally connected with the ship and in a loading position at an outer end (5) is supported by an offboard surface (18) for cargo to be transported between a deck (7) of the ship and said offboard surface by means of the ship's ramp. The ship's ramp varies in angular relationship relative to the offboard surface due to movements in the water surface of the sea. The device (1) includes a platform (21), which is pivotally suspended in a base unit (27) by means of pivot means (28). The platform (21) has top support means (22) provided to receive and support the outer end (5) of the ship's ramp (2). The base unit (27) has bottom support means (43) provided to rest on said offboard surface (18).

Abstract: The present invention relates in particular to an autonomous container ship of the type having a hull, propulsion means, and loading and unloading means, characterized by having ballasting means and means (11, 12, 5) for varying the air draft without changing the draft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for shipping a reel (1) onboard a ship (2) where the reel (1) is at least partly placed into a cargo space (3) of the ship. The arrangement comprises a reel holder (4), which holds the reel (1) placed therein substantially in position at least in the horizontal and downward direction, and the reel holder (4) is arranged onto a tweendeck (5) in the ship's cargo space (3) that is placed at a distance from the bottom (6) of the ship's cargo space, closer to the metacentre of the ship (2) than to the bottom (6) of the ship. The invention also relates to a tweendeck to be used as a transport support for the reel (1) in sea transport and to a tweendeck arrangement in the ship's cargo space (3).

Abstract: A palletizing system includes a reusable pallet and a reusable anchoring device for securing a load. The anchoring device comprises a strap and clamping mechanism for selectively receiving and clamping to the strap and, alternatively, releasing the strap. The pallet includes a base and one or more housings fixed to the base for receiving the clamping mechanism. Each housing has an opening for receiving the clamping mechanism and providing access to the clamping mechanism so that the clamping mechanism can be manipulated in the housing, and an aperture for receiving the strap, the aperture being sized to prevent the clamping mechanism from passing through the aperture.

Abstract: A marine vessel used for loading and offloading vehicles and cargo that has both excellent seakeeping and beaching properties. The vessel is provided with azimuthing or steerable thrusters below the waterline at the bow and stern of the ship, with the stern end thrusters being retractable into the hull during beaching operations. Because the vessel is beached “stern first” the bow may be designed with better wave breaking and seakeeping features than are on prior landing craft designs.

Abstract: A system for transporting a payload in a marine environment that utilizes a converted vessel having at least one internal space, at least one interface system securingly attached to said vessel to support in a seaworthy fashion a payload above and/or at the vessel's deck.

Abstract: A non-permeable bladder is used for transporting oil within a steel compartment onboard an oil tanker. The bladder is contained within a meso-skeleton suspended within the individual metal tank which causes any force which would otherwise puncture the bladder, to be spread evenly over the exterior of the bladder and causes the fluid within the bladder to be expelled through a check valve into one or more smaller containers which can either be maintained onboard the oil tanker or forced into the water through which the tanker had been moving.

Abstract: The present invention relates in particular to an autonomous container ship of the type having a hull, propulsion means, and loading and unloading means, characterized by having ballasting means and means (11, 12, 5) for varying the air draft without changing the draft.

Abstract: The invention concerns an autonomous container ship comprising a bottom, a propulsion system, a loading and unloading system for loading and unloading containers, a balancing system, characterized in that the bottom has a hull incorporating a propulsion system and the ship comprises a carrying system for transporting containers from important ports equipped with facilities for loading and unloading containers to small ports not provided with such equipment and less than 4 meters deep. The ship includes a propulsion system ensuring the ship's cruising speed on the high seas and its speed in estuaries and ports, a loading and unloading system adapted to ports not provided with appropriate equipment, and a balancing system for balancing the ship at sea providing stability and trim during container handling operations.

Abstract: The invention concerns an autonomous container ship comprising a hull, a propulsion system, loading and unloading systems for loading and unloading containers, and a balancing system. The ship transports containers from larger ports equipped with facilities for loading and unloading containers to smaller ports which may not provide such equipment and may be less than 4 meters deep. The ship includes a propulsion system to propel the ship to cruising speed on the high seas and at lower speeds in estuaries and ports, loading and unloading systems adapted to ports not provided with appropriate equipment, and a balancing system for balancing the ship at sea by providing stability and trim during container handling operations.

Abstract: The invention concerns an autonomous container ship comprising a hull, a propulsion system, loading and unloading systems for loading and unloading containers, and a balancing system. The ship transports containers from larger ports equipped with facilities for loading and unloading containers to smaller ports which may not provide such equipment and may be less than 4 meters deep. The ship includes a propulsion system to propel the ship to cruising speed on the high seas and at lower speeds in estuaries and ports, loading and unloading systems adapted to ports not provided with appropriate equipment, and a balancing system for balancing the ship at sea by providing stability and trim during container handling operations.

Abstract: A cargo carrier includes a hollow interior defining a cargo area. Thermal insulation is mounted in the body and surrounds the cargo area. Refrigeration units are located in refrigeration areas in the cargo area. A plurality of cargo containers are stacked within the cargo area and are spaced from the refrigeration units. The cargo containers support cargo and have a plurality of passageways around the cargo and through the containers between the outsides and insides of the containers. Cooling air is conveyed from the refrigeration units into the containers, around the cargo and from the containers back to the refrigeration units.

Abstract: A vessel capable of having a plurality of the following structures and method of construction therefor are disclosed. The vessel comprises a hull including a cavity for receiving a plurality of containers. The vessel has one or more of the following features: a bow ramp with clamshell doors; sideport doors and ramps; internal overhead container handling system with transverse jib booms; container compartment; exterior rolling container crane with jib booms; forward pallet elevators; aft pallet elevators; a helicopter hangar; a cargo/helicopter elevator; a stern ramp/gate; a wet/dry well deck; RO/RO cargo decks; a helicopter flight deck; a wet-well ballast system; and a bow-grounding ballast system.

Abstract: The cargo ship (SL) as seagoing or inland waterway ship or pushed lighter, is fitted with a pallet high bay shelving system which has both sides of at least one bay row (RG) has a number of storage bays (cells) (1) placed either above one another or side for the pallets units, and has a drivable pallet vehicle (RFZ) to store and remove the pallet units (PE) in the bay rows (RG). The pallet vehicle (RFZ) is fitted with a vertical, central mast (2) on its chassis (3) and accommodates on one or both sides of the mast a satellite vehicle (4) capable of extending into or out of the storage bays (1) transversely to the travel direction (f) of the transversely or longitudinally propellable pallet vehicle (RFZ), and the satellite vehicles (4) can travel right up to the respective ship's side walls (5), and over them in the case of cargo space overbuilt to the outside (SL), for storage and removal of the pallet units (PE).

Abstract: A transport ship (20) adapted for simultaneous transport of a cargo of i) a liquid, particularly oil, and ii) a plurality of containers (32, 32') as well as iii) optionally at least one additional type of goods, the transport ship having: a hull including a sheathing (22), a weather deck (23, 23'), a bottom (18) and a tank (30) for storing and transporting the liquid, as well as a front part (35), a rear part (25) and a central part (29). The ship is a plurality of hold sections (28, 28') defined by the bottom (18) and the weather deck (23, 23'), the hold sections (28, 28') being adapted to store containers (32, 32') and/or the optional additional type of goods, the weather deck (23, 23') is adapted to support containers (32, 32'), the weather deck (23, 23') includes access hatches giving access to the hold sections (28, 28'), and the tank (30) for storing the liquid extends from the area at the bottom (18) of the ship upwards to a height above the weather deck (23, 23').

Abstract: A cargo ship for transporting wheeled vehicles and cargo units simultaneously has a hull with a bottom structure and a cargo space defined within the hull. The cargo space has at least first and second cargo sections. The first cargo section has a space grillage structure that is self-supporting and flexibly mounted to the hull of the ship so as to diminish the transmission of hull deformation loads to the space grillage structure. The second cargo section is located below the first cargo section and has cargo holds for containing heavy-weight cargo to provide ballast for the ship.

Abstract: A ship hull with bulb prow and with bottom which extends without sharp changes from the bulb to the square stern of the hull along continuously bent longitudinal lines and with hull sides which are inclined from the vertical plane from the waterline to the bottom plane.

Abstract: A transport ship (20) having a hull includes a sheathing (22), a weather deck (23, 23') and a hold (28, 28', 30), and having a front part (35), a rear part (25) and a central part (29). The ship is unique in that the front part (35) of the ship includes a hold section (28') defined by the hull and the weather deck (23'), and access hatches provided in the weather deck (23') to give access to the hold section (28'), that the rear part (25) of the ship includes a hold section (28) defined by the hull and the weather deck (23), and access hatches provided in the weather deck (23) to give access to the hold section (28), that the central part (29) of the ship includes a refrigerated hold section (30) defined by an upper thermally insulated refrigerated hold deck (130), a thermally insulated bottom and by thermally insulated walls (132, 133 . . . ) extending in the transverse direction and longitudinal direction of the ship, and in that the weather deck (23, 23') is adapted to support a cargo.

Abstract: A gas storage system formed of a continuous pipe wound in plural layers, each layer having plural loops. The pipe may be distributed within a container, which may serve as a carousel for winding the pipe and as a gas containment device. When containers, each containing a continuous pipe are stacked upon each other, the weight of upper containers may be born by the walls of lower containers, thus preventing lower layers of pipe from suffering stresses due to crushing by upper layers. A method of transporting gas to a gas distribution facility including obtaining a supply of gas at a gas supply point remote from the gas distribution facility, injecting the gas into a continuous pipe bent to form plural layers, each layer including plural loops of pipe, transporting the continuous pipe along with the gas to the gas distribution facility preferably in a ship and discharging the gas at the gas distribution facility.

Abstract: A ship which has supporting columns which run vertically and are located in the hull of the ship, as well as at least one flat, rectangular area element which extends horizontally and is supported on at least one of these support columns, in which the supporting columns are located at some distance from the corner points of the rectangular area element.

Abstract: A gas storage system formed of a continuous pipe wound in plural layers, each layer having plural loops. The pipe may be distributed within a container, which may serve as a carousel for winding the pipe and as a gas containment device. When containers, each containing a continuous pipe are stacked upon each other, the weight of upper containers may be born by the walls of lower containers, thus preventing lower layers of pipe from suffering stresses due to crushing by upper layers. A method of transporting gas to a gas distribution facility including obtaining a supply of gas at a gas supply point remote from the gas distribution facility, injecting the gas into a continuous pipe bent to form plural layers, each layer including plural loops of pipe, transporting the continuous pipe along with the gas to the gas distribution facility preferably in a ship and discharging the gas at the gas distribution facility.

Abstract: The invention is a monohull fast ship. The ship includes a hull producing a high pressure area at a bottom portion of a stern which rises from a point of maximum depth forward of a longitudinal center of the hull to a point of minimum draft at a transom which produces hydrodynamic lifting of the stern at a threshold speed above a length Froude Number of 0.

Abstract: A ship based system for compressed natural gas transport that utilizes a ship having a plurality of gas cylinders. The invention is characterized by the plurality of gas cylinders configured into a plurality of compressed gas storage cells. Each compressed gas storage cell consists of between 3 and 30 gas cylinders connected by a cell manifold to a single control valve. A high pressure manifold is provided including means for connection to shore terminals. A low pressure manifold is provided including means for connection to shore terminals. A submanifold extends between each control valve to connect each storage cell to both the high pressure manifold and the low pressure manifold. Valves are provided for controlling the flow of gas through the high pressure manifold and the low pressure manifold.

Abstract: The pallet shelf system for/in a refrigerator ship has a number of bays (RZ), disposed on both sides of a shelf corridor (1) with a shelving vehicle (2) movable in the corridor, with channel-like supporting and running guides (3) arranged in tiers for pallets (4) to be set down on the guides and satellite cars (5) movable in them. On their lengthwise end remote from the corridor (1), the supporting and running guides (3) are assigned air ducts (6), which together with the supporting and running guides (3) and the set-down pallets (4) form an air circulation guide (LUF). Each of the bays (RZ), on its loading and unloading face end toward the corridor (1), is assigned one air lock (7) that closes the bay (RZ) over its entire height and is to be opened for loading and unloading.

Abstract: The present invention provides a containment integrity system for application in a vessel carrying bulk materials such as liquid petroleum products. The containment integrity system comprises a flexible liner having an inner composite fabric portion and an outer fiber-reinforced rubber skin portion, a fastening system for rigidly securing the flexible liner to the walls of the vessel, an anchoring system for releasably securing and conforming the flexible liner to and about all coverable features of the hull of the vessel, and a self-sealing flange assembly for insertion into all flow holes connecting the cargo compartments of the vessel. The present containment integrity system insures the necessary containment integrity of the hull of the vessel without significant reduction in the carrying capacity of the vessel.

Abstract: A barge for the commercial shipping of cargo along an inland waterway having an economically optimized bow, a stern, elongated sidewalls extending between the bow and the stern, and a bottom interconnecting the bow, stern and sidewalls. The bow has a profile within a longitudinal centerline plane of symmetry defined by a fullness which is defined by a block coefficient. The bow also has a corresponding radius within the longitudinal centerline plane. The fullness and the radius of the bow are optimized for economic performance of the barge, which is dependent upon revenue generated by shipping cargo in the barge along a waterway, fuel costs associated with overcoming resistance to propel the barge along a waterway, and maintenance and repair costs associated with propelling the barge along a waterway. The barge has a block coefficient in the range of about 0.96 to about 0.988, with a corresponding radius ranging from about 10' to about 22'.

Abstract: Methods for transporting and unloading liquid cargo by water borne vessels are disclosed. At least two unstackable containers are transported to a remote unloading location by water borne vessel. One of the containers, substantially empty, is unloaded from the vessel onto a dockage area. Liquid cargo from the second unstackable container can be offloaded onto the dockage area and the proceeds repeated from third, fourth, and so on, unstackable containers until all liquid cargo desired to be offloaded resides in the dockage area in the unloaded containers.

Abstract: An open cellular containership includes a hull having side walls and load bearing decks with transverse bulkheads defining a plurality of cargo holds therein each provided with elements defining adjacent cells with each hold adapted to receive a plurality of tiers of ISO shipping containers. The plurality of tiers of containers are stacked within the hold cells until the top surface of the uppermost containers are disposed adjacent the strength decks atop the side walls, without any hatch covers being mounted thereatop. This hatchcoverless containership construction is possible due to the formation of the freeboard of the ship's hull, with this freeboard amounting to no less than 2.5% of the ship's length, as measured between the respective perpendiculars extending through the ship's rudder post and bow. This is noticeably distinct from the freeboard of conventional hatch cover containerships, which ranges between 0.8% to 1.5% of length.

Abstract: A container carrier vessel has a wide, short bow section, a wide and shorter stern section, and an elongated intermediate multi-mode cargo container carrier section extending between the bow section and the stern section. An inverted U-shaped central section divides the long intermediate cargo section and supports a deck for mounting of a track and crane to handle casual cargo loading and unloading. The U-shaped section has a tunnel space for carrying communications between the bow and stern sections, and has provision for mounting a personnel mover. The stern section has a retractable pilot house mounted atop a telescoping mast for maintaining high elevation viewing of surrounding conditions and retracting to avoid overhead obstructions such as bridges. The vessel has a welded steel plate fore and welded side bulkheads and stern bulkheads, and sloped prow.

Abstract: A tanker which can reliably prevent the outflow of cargo oil from cargo oil tank sections (1, 2, 105, 106) in the ship body in the event of damage or injury to an outer plate (8, 9) of the ship body has a double-sided hull construction (4, 104) arranged on opposite sides of each cargo oil tank in the ship's body and a mid-height deck (3, 118) arranged to divide each cargo oil tank into an upper cargo oil tank (2, 106) and a lower cargo oil tank (1, 105). To reliably prevent the outflow of cargo oil in the event of damage or injury to the ship body due to stranding, collision or similar malfunction, the height (H) of the mid-height deck (1, 118) as measured from the ship bottom (8, 108) is determined so that the pressure of cargo oil exerted on an outer plate of the ship's side wall will not be higher than the pressure of sea water. An access trunk (5, 112) and pressure control devices (6, 7, 113, 114) serve for degassing cargo tank sections.

Abstract: A system and method to transfer oil cargo from ruptured tank(s) of a tanker to receiving vessel(s) or receiving tank(s), while maintaining a partial vacuum in the ullage space of the ruptured tank(s). A partial vacuum is created and maintained in the ullage space of tank(s) of a tanker to reduce outflow of liquid such as oil in the event of a ruptured tank. The vacuum is continuously maintained in a precise balance responsive to the forces acting on the contents of the tank, which forces change when the tank is ruptured. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention the liquid cargo in the tank(s) of the ruptured vessel is transferred to tank(s) of receiving vessels or any designated receiving tank(s) while maintaining the partial vacuum in the ullage space of the tanks of the ruptured tanker or vessel. The partial vacuum in the ullage space of the ruptured tank must be maintained while the oil is transferred to tanks of a receiving vessel, otherwise catastrophic oil spillage may occur.

Abstract: Vapors, typically volatile organic compounds, emitted from a vaporizable liquid, typically oil, that is within a tank, typically a ship's tank, are (i) compressed, and (ii) stored in a reservoir that is closed to the atmosphere. The (i) compression typically transpires in and by a series/parallel array of pumps, rotary or reciprocating compressors, to a storage pressure of 150+ PSIA. The several million cubic feet ullage volume of a typical 200,000 ton oil tanker is typically compressed over a few days during and/or after loading, and stored in a typically spherical gas storage tank of some 10-20 feet in diameter. Stored gases are returned to the ullage spaces during offloading of the oil tanks in a closed system. This emission control by vapor recovery is interoperative with related systems and methods (i) to avoid spillage of oil due to the rupture of a ship's tank, and/or (ii) to make and maintain a mixture of gases and vapors within the tank's ullage space to be non-explosive and non-flammable.

Abstract: Container stowing frames for container ships are provided with sets of steps. Different paired steps of paired sets of steps define different paired surfaces for abutting against the widthwise extremities of a container of a respective different predetermined width. Directly above each set of steps an outwardly curvilinearly flared surface defines a smooth, wide entrance leading to a respective set of steps.

Abstract: A system to reduce outflow of liquid such as oil due to the rupture of a ship's tank by means of creating and continuing to maintain a partial vacuum in the affected tank or tanks. The system generates a partial vacuum below the atmospheric pressure in the ullage space of the tank(s) and maintains the vacuum to precisely balance the forces acting on the contents of the tank. If the rupture is below the water line then, due to surface tension dynamics resulting in a stratified flow, water will tend to force itself through the lower part of the rupture and force the oil upward and pump out oil over the water until the water level reaches the top part of the rupture. When the water level reaches the top part of the rupture, an equilibrium condition is established and precisely maintained by the partial vacuum condition created by the system.

Abstract: Hoisting apparatus, comprising a side loader, passenger or freight elevator for ships, having a cage which moves along a path at least partially curved. The hoisting apparatus include an elevator shaft mounted on the ship broadside provided with one or more guide rails along which the side loader cage can be moved. The hoisting apparatus comprises at least a hoisting machine, hoisting ropes, elements moving along the guide rail or guide rails, and a lifting platform.

Abstract: In a cargo ship the upper edge (8) of its lateral loading opening (3) is at a higher level than the rails (4) of an overhead crane (5) in its cargo space (2), an intermediate cargo deck being divided into two sections (6, 7). The elevator section (6), farther from the opening (3), can be lowered to a lower level than the overhead crane (5) by at least the height of a cargo unit (9) and a rail section (4') located above the ramp section can be moved away from the opening. The invention is especially applicable to small ships not having an active stabilization system.

Abstract: A cargo ship is provided with transverse bulkheads to separate holds from each other. In addition, the bulkheads are arranged in pairs to define compartments therebetween in which flights of steps are arranged. Access openings are also provided in the transversely extending bulkheads to provide access to the steps at various levels. Each flight of steps is contained between two partitions which form a passage within the compartment. A hatch cover is provided at the top to gain access to the passage.

Abstract: An emergency bulk liquid cargo handling system for marine vessels when storage tanks for those liquids have been ruptured and flooded with sea water wherein the liquid cargo handling system is adjustable to provide liquid cargo removal from the flooded tanks regardless of the level of the liquid cargo/water interface in the flooded tank.

Abstract: A containership (1) having a superstructure which comprises a hull, a container bearing deck (2) located beneath the waterline, sidewalls (3, 4) which extend upwardly from the container bearing deck to define a container hold (5) located within the hull. At the top of the walls is a strength deck (8) whose position approximates the position of the uppermost row of containers (9) when the ship is fully laden. The elongate sidewalls (3, 4) restrain the containers and provide a weather shield.

Abstract: A liquid cargo tanker (10) includes a liquid carrying hold (18,20,22) and a reservoir (24) disposed within the hold (18,20,22) for containing a liquid to be transported therein. The reservoir (24) includes a top wall (26) and a bottom wall (28), both walls having edge portions in fluid tight engagement defining a fluid tight seam (30). The top wall (26), bottom wall (28) and seam (30) are free from connection to the hold (18,20,22). The reservoir (24) has a full condition wherein the top wall (26) is raised by the liquid away from the bottom wall (28) as the seam (30) moves away from the hold (18,20,22) and an empty condition wherein the top wall (26) collapses on the bottom wall (28) as the seam (30) moves towards the hold (18,20,22).

Abstract: A container/bulk cargo interchangeable system to allow a cargo ship's hold the versatility and option of storing and carrying either ISO containers entirely, or of storing and carrying bulk cargo or break bulk entirely, or of storing and carrying a combination of ISO containers and bulk cargo or break bulk. Sets of two flat platforms may be raised to their vertical upright positions to permit the entire storage of ISO containers; or the sets of flat platforms may be lowered to their horizontal dispositions for the entire storage thereon of bulk cargo or break bulk; or the requisite number of sets of flat platforms may be raised to their vertical upright positions and the remaining sets of flat platforms may be lowered to their horizontal dispositions for storage of ISO containers and bulk cargo or break bulk, respectively.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for securing containers on the deck of a containership. Tower assemblies are provided on either side of a container body. A lowermost tier of containers is engaged by castings and dowels mounted on deck or hatch covers. Cantilevered platforms mounted between vertical tower members pivot outwards to lie atop the containers. Dowels carried on the cantilevered platforms are positioned to engage the bottom locating apertures of the second tier of containers. Similar apparatus is provided for subsequent tiers. The uppermost tier rests upon a cantilevered platform, and also is retained in vertical position by a locking dowel engaging the horizontal locating aperture of the container.

Abstract: The Fast Loading Articulated Platforms System--FLAPS provides modern containerships with an ability in a matter of minutes to transform cellular hold, for handling only containers, into multideck hold, for handling outsized and break-bulk cargo, and back to cellular hold. It includes a set of flat moveable deck section, assigned to certain holds, which during a container mode of operation are lowered to the hold bottom and stored on the top of each other, and serve as a foundation for several layers of containers above them. During the general cargo mode of operation, the moveable deck section are lifted above each other to a certain height and are fixed to the ship's structure. It transforms cellular hold into multideck hold. Each moveable deck section has a provision to be pivoted 90.degree. in the hold and stored in this position during cargohandling operation on the lower deck.