Abstract: An apparatus for preventing or minimizing spilled fluid cargo in a marine environment, and for recovering that fluid cargo which does spill is disclosed. The apparatus consists of vacuum source can be connected with each hold of a marine cargo vessel and used to evacuate the holds after they are filled with fluid cargo, thereby preventing or minimizing fluid cargo loss due to a breach of the holds. Also disclosed is the use of a vacuum source which is connected to a substantially airtight enclosure, typically a tank or a hold of a marine cargo vessel, and a pickup mechanism with a pickup passage that has one end connected to the tank or cargo hold and a second end connected to at least one pickup nozzle to recover spilled fluid cargo.

Abstract: A door latch assembly in which thrust roller bearings are placed between the handles and escutcheons and axially loaded to eliminate all axial play of the handles relative to the escutcheons.