Abstract: A device for impeding the flow of liquid cargo from a storage compartment of a water-traveling vessel upon damage to a hull of the vessel comprising a barrier member including (a) a sheet of fabric material resistant to the liquid cargo and having a predetermined limited degree of permeability thereto, and (b) reinforcement elements attached to the sheet for strengthening the fabric material and for at least inhibiting a tear from spreading in the sheet more than a predetermined distance from a point of perforation of the sheet. The flow impedance device also comprises support members for supporting the barrier member inside the storage compartment of the water-traveling vessel. The reinforcement elements take the form of a multiplicity of ribs disposed at a plurality of different angles with respect to each other.

Abstract: A device for impeding the flow of liquid cargo from a storage compartment of a water-traveling vessel upon damage to a hull of the vessel the device comprises a barrier member including (a) an upper portion of a flexible sheet material resistant to the liquid cargo and substantially impermeable thereto and (b) a lower portion attached to the upper portion and including a web of fabric material resistant to the liquid cargo and having a predetermined limited degree of permeability thereto. The flow impedance device further comprises reinforcement elements attached to the web for strengthening the fabric material and for at least inhibiting a tear from spreading in the web more than a predetermined distance from a point of perforation of the web. The flow impedance device also comprises bendable elongate resilient support members for supporting the barrier member inside the storage compartment of the water-traveling vessel.