Abstract: A geotextile container has a bag section, a cover section and a stuffing space. The bag section has a bag cloth, a bag non-woven fabric and a trapezoidal longitudinal section. The cover section is integrally connected with the bag section and has a cover cloth and a cover non-woven fabric. The stuffing space is formed inside the bag section and has a first margin portion. A longitudinal section of the stuffing space is trapezoidal. The first margin portion is formed at a side of a bottom of the stuffing space. The first margin portion can be immediately unfolded and contain filling materials once the geotextile container is projected into the sea.

Abstract: A trailing hose system is disclosed for the application of materials (liquid or granular pesticides, nutrient inactivation, water quality improvement compounds) in a water body. The trailing hose or hoses release the material (liquid or granular pesticides, nutrient inactivation, water quality improvement compounds) at the desired depth within the water column. The current technology for the subsurface application of these materials is surface injection, granular spreaders, and the use of weighted hoses deployed from a vessel (boat). Surface injection of these materials below the thermocline, or to the bottom of a water body in sufficient concentrations to control the target pest, to deactivate nutrients, and or enhance water quality is required in the industry. The current technology that utilizes the use of weighted hose is cumbersome, and is a slow process that allows for the application of these materials at approximately 1-2 miles per hour.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a barge with an open top container for receiving a cargo mounted on the deck characterized in that the container is pivotally mounted on the deck such that cargo (e.g. marine sand) can be discharged from the barge by tilting of the container about the pivotal axis. The barge is particularly useful for use in land reclamation projects and the invention further relates to a method of reclaiming land utilizing such barges.

Abstract: An attachment to a drainage hose for use on a stockpiling barge that includes: a fluid pervious bag formed of a flexible fabric material, the fluid pervious bag having an open end and a closed end, a ballast material attached to or retained within the closed end of the fluid pervious bag, and means for securing the open end of the fluid pervious bag about a hose. Also disclosed are the attachment in combination with a drainage hose and a stockpiling barge, a method of filtering runoff water from a stockpiling barge through the use of the attachments, and a method of preventing non-dissolved organic or inorganic contaminants from flowing from a stockpiling barge into a body of water through the use of the attachments.

Abstract: A system for transporting material recovered in a dredging operation performed by a dredge is disclosed. The system includes a water-borne material distribution vessel including a conveyor system for receiving and depositing the recovered material. It also includes at least one water-borne material transportation vessel for transporting recovered material from the dredge to the material distribution vessel. The water-borne material distribution vessel can deposit the material into the waterway to form an island (which may be a levy), into another water-borne vessel, or into an on-shore station such as a wheeled transportation vehicle.

Abstract: A method of disposal of waste material on subaqueous ground is disclosed, and comprises transporting the material to a location above a selected site for disposal, conveying the material in a vessel to a level at, or close to, the subaqueous ground, and depositing the material onto the subaqueous ground. The vessel travels under free-fall conditions for part of its descent. Also provided is a vessel which comprises a generally cylindrical body comprising a containment area having an opening at its upper end for receiving material which is to be transported by the vessel, and having at its lower end means for permitting egress of the material.

Abstract: A method for disposal of material on subaqueous ground substantially without said material coming into contact with the surrounding water is disclosed. The method comprises positioning a ship carrying said material above a selected site for disposal, transferring said material to a container or vehicle adapted to transport said material to the subaqueous ground, conveying said material to a level at, or close to, said subaqueous ground and depositing said material from said container onto said subaqueous ground. The method can be used to deposit two materials one over the other--i.e. by capping--which is valuable where the first material is a contaiminated waste product, and the second is an uncontaminated waste product. A ship for use in the method of the invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for erecting and removing offshore structures including a jacket and a platform is disclosed. The system of the invention includes a platform-lifting unit, a jacket lifting unit, and a control unit. The platform-lifting unit includes a laterally and vertically movable truss member, which is hingedly connected to a barge with lifting beams, and a means for positioning the truss member at desired height and at lateral displacement above the barge. The jacket-lifting unit contains a ballast tank structure connected to a strong back that has a plurality of grappling members. The control unit contains all supporting and controlling systems for the other units. To remove the platform, the truss member of the platform lifting unit is moved underneath the platform, the truss is raised to exert force on the platform, the platform is severed from the jacket, and the platform is moved on top of the barge.

Abstract: A method for the forming and the deposition in a selected place of a bulk consisting substantially of loose or lightly cohesive material, such as sand or other ground material, for example for use as the core or base of a dam, quay, a bank reinforcement, a jetty or a breakwater, for filing holes or trenches in the bed of a waterway, or for the packaging and storage of contaminated material. The invention has for its purpose to carry out a method of the type in such manner that it can be performed very inexpensively and quickly, while nonetheless ensuring an excellent durability of the formed bulk, both in the short and the long term.

Abstract: Treated sewage is loaded into the tanks of a large ocean-going tanker, transported therein to a deep water site, and then deposited directly onto the seabed at that site through piping deployed from the vessel and extending downwardly therefrom. The piping may be a flexible hose, or a string of steel pipes, or a combination of the two. The piping may be deployed over the side of the vessel, or preferably from a moon pool. The depth of the seabed for deposit might for example be one thousand or fifteen hundred meters, or considerably deeper, e.g., 7000 m; in extremely deep water it may not be necessary for the piping to extend fully to the seabed, although it is recommended that it extend at least below the depth at which the majority of fish are found and below the depth where there are significant thermal changes.

Abstract: A hopper vessel for storing bulk material such as dredged material, has one or more holds. The holds in their bottom are provided with trap doors that open by moving downwardly below the bottom of the vessel. In shallow water, there is the risk that these trap doors, when moved downwardly, will contact the bottom or the material that is deposited from the hopper vessel on the bottom. Therefore, some of the trap doors in the hold are at a higher level in the closed position than the other trap doors. To discharge material, the higher trap doors are opened first; and after enough material has been discharged that the vessel rises sufficiently high in the water, only then are the lower trap doors moved to open position to complete the discharge of the material. The higher trap doors are provided at the ends of the hold. This allows adjusting the angle of the vessel if the bottom of the body of water is sloped.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a self-dumping barge which can be opened and closed by means of hydraulic cylinders (18), comprises hooks (38) and transverse bolts (42) cooperating therewith. The transverse bolts (42) are connected to the hydraulic cylinders (18) in the area of a piston rod (20) for each cylinder. A hook support (26) is connected to an outer end of the piston rod. The device eliminates special arms or the like for receiving the locking mechanism and also the corresponding reinforcing attachments on the hull. Preferably the transverse bolts (42) are located at the outer end of the hydraulic cylinders (18) and the hook supports (26) coincide with the points of attachment for the piston rods.

Abstract: A system for maritime transportation and distribution of bulk raw materials includes a series of containers, a carrier vessel, a container unloading dock for unloading material from each container, and a loading dock for loading material into each container, each container having openings in the stern and bow walls for loading and unloading materials, provided with watertight covers and/or valves, and having no hatches on deck so that the containers can be stacked one on the other, the vessel having a hold provided with a port for the flotation loading and unloading of the containers into and out of the hold, the hold comprising retention devices to lock each container to the structure of the carrier vessel, in the stowage position the containers being stacked one on the other in a multilayer arrangement, the unloading dock being a sloping bed graving dock which includes a tunnel located underneath the same in communication with the floor of the dock through openings provided with watertight covers, and a con

Abstract: The invention relates to a suction dredge barge in which the air chambers (8,9) on either side of the hold (2) can be filled with mud via an overflow (14) at the top edge of the hold (2) said air chambers (8,9) having inclined bottoms (10,11) and discharge openings (12,13) towards the hold at the lower edge of said inclined bottoms (10,11).

Abstract: A hopper vessel has a series of discharge valve members in the bottom, which valve members can swing about a transverse axis from a horizontal postion, in which they close the bottom openings of the hold of the vessel, into a vertical position, in which they fully open said bottom openings, which valve members also can be placed in an inclined intermediate position in which they still close the bottom openings, said valve members being provided with channels which are in line with channels in the intermediate parts of the bottom and with a conduit connected to a pump, and the bottom openings, at the level of the valve members, having openings in the side walls connecting to water supply which openings are closed in the horizontal position of the valve members by said valve members and opened in the intermediate position whereby water entering through the openings assists in the discharge of material through the conduit with at least one valve member in said intermediate position.

Abstract: This apparatus is for use in the launching of battered leg jackets for offshore platforms. The jacket is transported on at least one barge resting on its lower battered legs and, during launching, the apparatus guides the jacket by its lower battered legs to maintain the center line of the jacket on the launching center line. The apparatus uses a pair of dollies on a beam, and at least two beams on a barge. The beams are mounted transverse to the launching center line. The dollies can move along the transverse beam and position coordinating means are used to control the relative positions of the dollies on each beam such that the two dollies are maintained essentially the same distance from the launching center line with one dolly on either side of the launching center line. When either dolly is moved, the other dolly on the same beam will move the same distance in the opposite direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sand and gravel dredge in which, for discharge ashore, the cargo is re-slurried in the hold by high pressure oscillating water jets at the center of the hold floor, creating a turbulent region from which the re-slurried material enters a duct keel through selectively-operable valves and is pumped to dewatering screens at deck level. The dewatered material from the screens is conveyed ashore and the water passing through the screens is directed into settling tanks from where it is recirculated to the high pressure jets.