Abstract: A composite structural laminate comprise two outer metal, e.g. steel, layers and an intermediate elastomer core, e.g. of unfoamed polyurethane. The elastomer has a modulus of elasticity of greater than about 250 MPa and tensile and compressive strengths of at least 20 MPa. The strength of the bond between metal and elastomer is at least 3 MPa. The composite structural laminate member acts a single member under load, buckling globally, not asymmetrically.

Abstract: Impermeable and insulating tank built into a load-bearing structure, the tank having two successive sealing barriers alternated with two thermally insulating barriers, the secondary barriers and the primary insulating barrier consisting of a set of prefabricated panels, each panel comprising, in succession, a first rigid board, a first thermal insulation layer (104), a second thermal insulation layer (108), and a second rigid board, the junction regions between the primary insulating barrier elements of two adjacent panels being filled with insulating titles each consisting of a thermal insulation layer (115) covered with a rigid board, the continuity of the secondary sealing barrier being provided in the junction regions of two adjacent panels by flexible strips (120) which are impervious to gas and to liquid, each strip being hermetically bonded to a secondary insulating barrier element of a panel by a lateral marginal region (120a) and to a secondary insulating barrier element of the adjacent panel by an o

Abstract: A new tank ship, or an older ship which might not otherwise be economically retrofitted to comply with current regulations, is provided with a double hull requiring essentially no internal steel structural support by distributing and compacting sand in the bottom of the tank or cargo hold, applying a layer of reinforced concrete to the sand, laying steel plates on the surface of the cured concrete and welding the abutting edges of the plates to the hull, interior bulkheads, and to each other, to form a second fluid-tight bottom in the tank. The construction method can be used to retrofit older tankers to comply with Regulation 13G of MARPOL.

Abstract: An automated marine refueling facility for effecting marine fueling transactions includes a buoyant platform that is adapted to float above a water level in a body of water such as a lake and a storage tank that is mounted to said platform for storing a quantity of fuel. A pumping system is provided for permitting a customer to refuel a boat from fuel that is extracted from said storage tank. The pumping system is grounded so as to avoid electrical discharges. This facility is advantageous in that it permits a fueling transaction to be performed without an excess of unprotected piping between the storage tank and the boat, thereby reducing the potential for accidents and marine pollution.

Abstract: A method of reconstructing a liquid carrying tank vessel, such as an oil tanker, and to the reconstructed vessel whereby a tank vessel constructed with a single bottom hull is reconstructed to a double bottom hull configuration at least over the hull portion including the cargo tanks, and to the reconstructed vessel thereby obtained. The original hull is separated at a point where the bow curve meets the midships section of the hull. A new section is inserted which follows the curvature of the original bows, and increases both the beam and draft. A new double bottom is applied over the remainder of the cargo tank carrying space of the hull, which is tapered in to meet the curve of the stern section. The new section can be fabricated with, or without, a double bottom, depending on its intended use.

Abstract: A warship is provided with a plurality of interior volumes defined by an inner wall structure and an outer wall structure spaced apart from the inner wall structure. The space between the inner wall structure and the outer wall structure includes a syntactic foam-macrosphere composition between the wall structure which dissipates force applied to an outer wall structure.

Abstract: A multiple hull tanker vessel in the catamaran or trimaran style is provided with relatively narrow hulls containing vertically oriented, large volume, liquid storage tanks, the vertical tanks occupying the majority of the available area within the hulls, each hull having an upper portion which extends above the water line, a middle portion and a lower portion which remains below the water line, where the hull lower portion is extended in the lateral direction so as to be wider than the hull middle portion. The hull lower portion is preferably elliptical or ovoid in transverse cross-section and tapers at the bow and stern. The vertical storage tanks correspond in configuration to the hull configuration, and may extend laterally within the hull lower portion. The vessel may be provided with an upper deck surface to receive stacked cargo containers.

Abstract: A double hull marine vessel is provided which includes a syntactic foam-macrosphere composition between the inner and outer hulls which dissipates force applied to an outer hull.

Abstract: A composite laminate panel suitable for building containment vessels, and in particular, suitable for building double hull oil tankers. The laminate has two facing metal layers structurally bonded to a polyurethane elastomer core. The laminate is used in various hull components, such as the hull plates, longitudinal girders, transverse frames and bulkheads. The laminate is used to build the inner hull and the outer hull, and may be used to build the structural supports between the inner and outer hulls. The innermost layer of inner hull contains the ship's cargo. The elastomer core of the inner hull laminate isolates the innermost hull skin from cracks, thereby preventing a loss of cargo such as oil into the environment, when the outer hull is pierced, penetrated or ruptured in an accident or grounding.

Abstract: Liquid cargo tank and support system suitable for liquified natural gas, LNG, for LNG cargo ships includes a semi-membrane tank having vertical walls constructed of a series of curved plates and a girder support system that permits access to the tank exterior.

Abstract: A large ship comprises a hull and several cargo tanks. Each cargo tank has substantially semi-spherical bottom and top portions; the bottom portions of the tanks and the top portions of tanks all being of substantially equal radius of curvature. At least one tank has a substantially cylindrical intermediate portion that interconnects the bottom and top portions of the tank and is of substantially equal radius of curvature to the bottom and top portions of the tanks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for allowing securing of a collision guard to a side of a vessel. A vertically oriented post is fixedly attached to and extends upwardly from the collision guard and has an upper part which is received in a gap formed between a pair of vertically spaced-apart horizontally extending retainer plates. An enclosure formed between the retainer plates surrounds the posts on those sides which do not face the hull of the vessel. Adjustable screw jacks extend through the openings formed in the enclosure side walls to selectively adjustably contact the side walls of the post to thereby secure the retainer plates to the post. An attachment bolster mounted on a top deck of the vessel allows fixed attachment of the retainer plates to the vessel.

Abstract: A watertight, thermally insulating tank built into a bearing structure and including a primary watertight barrier contacting material within the tank and including strakes having edges turned upwardly towards an interior of the tank. A secondary watertight barrier is positioned between the primary watertight barrier and the bearing structure. The tank includes primary and secondary insulating barriers. The insulating barriers are alternately arranged with the watertight barriers. A weld support is mechanically held on the primary insulating barrier and forms an expansion joint. The strakes are butt-welded to two faces of the weld support. The secondary watertight barrier and the insulating barriers each include prefabricated panels fixed to the bearing structure. A zone at a junction between two adjacent panels is filled in at least to ensure continuity of the secondary watertight barrier. Each prefabricated panel is formed of a first rigid plate including a layer of thermal insulant.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a hybrid framing system for providing transverse structural support to and a predetermined cargo compartment arrangement for a bulk cargo carrier vessel of the type having a longitudinal midsection for locating cargo compartments. The system includes a hull bottom and port and starboard side walls depending from the hull bottom and defining the vessel midsection, a plurality of liquid-tight transverse bulkheads attached to the bottom and side walls and defining a series of adjoining cargo compartments in the vessel midsection, and a plurality of non-liquid-tight transverse web frames, at least one of the web frames positioned between successive ones of the transverse bulkheads. The bottom and side walls each including an inner hull shell, an outer hull shell, and a plurality of longitudinal support members therebetween.

Abstract: A support structure for a self-standing storage tank used in a liquefied gas carrier ship is disclosed. The carrier ship comprises a hold for housing the storage tank. Between a bottom section of the tank and a bottom surface of the hold, lateral movement restraining devices for restraining the lateral movements of the tank and fore-aft movement restraining devices for restraining the longitudinal movements of the tank are disposed. Between a roof section of the tank and a roof surface of the hold, only lateral movement restraining devices are disposed.

Abstract: A double-hull tanker having one or more cargo tanks is structured so as to have compartments surrounding each cargo tank in the form of between inner and outer hulls, and possibly between cargo tanks. These surrounding compartments are normally empty when the tanker is carrying a cargo of oil, or a similar largely water immiscible, lighter-than-water flowable liquid cargo. The volume of the cargo tank or tanks above a level equal to 111 percent of the assigned draft (Vc) of the vessel, is less than the volume of that cargo tank's surrounding compartments below that same level (Va). Because the hydrostatic equilibrium level for typical specific gravity ranges of crude oil and seawater is at least 111 percent of a vessel's maximum allowable operating draft, the compartments provide sufficient volume to contain all oil which might leak from a cargo tank during grounding damage.

Abstract: A method of constructing or, modifying a watercraft (10) comprises the step of fitting to a main hull (14) of the watercraft an outer hull structure (15) which includes or which forms an outer hull skin (22) by attaching the outer hull structure (15) to the external surface of the main hull (14) of the watercraft. The outer hull structure (15) provides fluid containment spaces (155) between the outer hull skin (22) and the main hull (14) and a communication is provided for flooding the spaces (155) with water from the body of water within which the craft moves. The fluid containment spaces (155) extend above the waterline of the watercraft and means are provided for supplying a pressurized inert gas and/or for applying vacuum pressures to preselected sections of the outer hull structure (15) so that the water levels in those sections can be brought above or below the waterline of the watercraft to increase the overall ballast effect or the buoyancy or to alter the trim of the watercraft (10 ).

Abstract: The liquid cargo transport ship according to the invention is complete with a double-hull structure comprising a side plating 2 and an internal plating 3 for constituting the bottom and side construction respectively surrounding cargo tanks 4 available for loading liquid cargo. Space domain 5 formed between the side plating 2 and the internal plating 3 is utilized for constituting a plurality of ballast tanks.A plurality of tanks 12R and 12L solely being available for ballasting purpose are provided in part of the interior of cargo tanks 4R and 4L which are disposed in the central domain of the ship 1 in the fore-and-aft direction.

Abstract: In a hull the skin plate is built up as a composite member with an outer skin, a core and an inner skin. The skin plate is placed on the framework which includes longitudinal stiffeners. The inner skin is constructed as a diaphragm element relative to the external water pressure, while the core is made as a pressure-absorbing element and the outer skin is constructed primarily as a bending stressed element. The inner skin as a diaphragm will take tensile stress and be protected against outer local stresses. The material in the core can be chosen without major requirements to be able to tolerate shearing stress. The outer skin can be dimensioned and made primarily to take local shock loads.

Abstract: A watertight and thermally insulating tank built into the bearing structure of a ship. The tank includes a primary watertight barrier contacting a product contained within the tank. A secondary watertight barrier is located between the primary watertight barrier and a bearing structure of the ship. The tank also includes a primary thermal insulating barrier and a secondary thermal insulating barrier. The thermal insulating barriers are alternated with the watertight barriers. A fastener holds the primary thermal insulating barrier pressed against the secondary watertight barrier. A corner connection connects elements of the primary and secondary watertight barriers at a corner of the tank in zones where the transverse bulkheads meet the internal sides of the double hull of the ship at an intersection ridge. The corner connection secures the elements of the watertight barriers to opposite sides of a band along weld lines. The weld lines are substantially parallel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a watertight and thermally insulating tank built into the bearing structure of a ship, the said tank including two successive watertight barriers, one being a primary one (235) in contact with the product contained in the tank and the other being a secondary one (219) located between the primary barrier and the bearing structure of the ship, these two watertightness barriers being alternated with two thermally insulating barriers, the primary insulating barrier being held pressed against the secondary watertightness barrier by means of fastening means (218); the primary insulating barrier (220) is held pressed against the secondary watertightness barrier (203) by the primary watertightness barrier (235) itself, the said primary and secondary watertightness barriers being secured to the said fastening means (218) in a watertight fashion.

Abstract: A tank body is covered at its outer surface with an insulation material and is supported by tank supports arranged on a bottom of an inner shell of a hull. A drainer for discharging leaked liquid is mounted each at least at four corners on a lower surface of the insulation material at the bottom of the tank body. A drip tray is arranged below each drainer. Sealing is provided between the tank support and the insulation material. Leaked liquid is reliably collected and disposed by the drip tray.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a midbody section for a midbody section for a marine vessel of the double hull type, said midbody section having joined rectilinear top, bottom, and two side hull portions, said midbody section comprising: said top, bottom, and two side hull portions being constructed from substantially identically dimensioned rectilinear sandwich sections and having inner and outer hull plates, said inner and outer hull plates being joined together by at least longitudinally extending members welded to said inner and outer hull plates. The invention includes method and apparatus for construction of the sandwich sections.

Abstract: A tanker ship has upper and lower tanks for carrying cargo. The upper and lower tanks are separated from each other by an intermediate deck. The lower tank is filled with cargo to the intermediate deck such that the cargo is slightly pressurized and there is no ullage space. As the tanker sails, the cargo in the lower tank is likely to change pressure due to temperature changes. These pressure changes are detected by a pipe extending from the lower tank through the intermediate deck up to an ullage space in the corresponding upper tank. A siphon is used to transfer cargo between the upper and lower tanks to equalize the pressures. In the event that the lower tank is breached, sensors are used to detect the resulting drop in pressure from the lower tank cargo. The sensor system provides a warning to the crew, closes the siphon to prevent cargo transfer from the upper tank to the lower tank and opens an auxiliary pipe located in the upper portion of the lower tank.

Abstract: A double hull structure includes a controllably crushable stand-off struce for maintaining a separation between inner and outer hulls and may be retrofit onto existing hulls either in modular and/or break-away sections or as a complete "shoe" enclosing the existing hull. This retrofittable hull is preferably of a non-metallic composite material which reduces or eliminates corrosion of the existing hull, extending the usable lifetime thereof. The controllably crushable stand-off structure is designed to provide sequential failure, preferably by sequential energy absorbing brittle fractures with little elastic deformation, to provide protection of the existing hull during collisions and/or groundings and thus enhance cargo containment. The brittle fracture is preferably provided by the use of non-metallic composite material in beams of the stand-off structure and/or the inclusion of syntactic foams.

Abstract: A rectangular-shaped self-standing liquefied gas storage tank carried in a low temperature liquefied gas carrier ship is disclosed. The tank is of an approximate box-shape having a bottom plate section, front and rear sections, two side wall sections, and a roof plate section. The carrier ship has bulkheads inside thereof, formed along the direction of the width of the carrier ship, to define holds for each of the tanks. The tank has reducing sections between the roof plate section and the lateral wall sections, which are directed toward the inner side of the tank and extend upwardly. Lateral movement restraining members are provided between the front wall section of the tank and one of the bulkheads of the carrier ship, and between the rear wall section of the tank and another bulkhead.

Abstract: The invention is a container for liquid product in marine transport situations, the container comprising a resilient or elastomeric membrane positioned within the confines of the marine transport vessel. The containment membrane is composed of a suitable material impermeable and inert to the liquid product, of sufficient strength and thickness to contain the liquid without spillage under stress situations. The membrane is supported within the confines of the marine vessel structure by a system consisting of a liquid jacket, preferably seawater, filled to a hydrostatic level closely approximating that of the contained liquid product and, by a plurality of restraining tie members.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a midbody section for a liquid cargo vessel of the double hull type, the midbody section having rectilinear top, bottom, and two side hull portions joined by four curvilinear hull portions, the midbody section including: the top, bottom, and two side hull portions being constructed from substantially identically dimensioned rectilinear sandwich sections and having inner and outer hull plates; and the four curvilinear hull portions being substantially identically dimensioned and having inner and outer hull plates. The invention includes method and apparatus for construction of the sandwich sections.

Abstract: The invention relates to marine vessels equipped with collision guards made in the form of a fender module secured to the exterior surface of the hull and supported thereby. The module, which can be one or more in number, is filled with lightweight buoyant material and protects the hull proper from collision damage, or it can be made in the form of a hollow shell divided into a plurality of watertight compartments.

Abstract: Apparatus for protecting against spillage of oil and similar cargoes carried in a tanker vessel upon high-energy impact of the hull 10 of the vessel with another object. The apparatus comprises a series of bladder modules whose walls are made of flexible material of sufficient strength to substantially withstand rupture upon such impact. Each flexible module comprises an inboard cargo-carrying bladder 16 surrounded outboardly by a buffer bladder 12 containing air under pressure. Such buffer bladder 12 may alternatively contain water or other ballast liquid when desired to maintain seaworthiness of the vessel.

Abstract: A sealed insulating vessel forming part of the supporting structure of a ship is provided. This vessel has two sealing barriers alternating with two insulating barriers. The tanks 3 of the secondary insulating barrier are coupled to the supporting structure of the ship by lugs 5 fixed at right angles with thick internal bulkheads, the bulkheads longitudinally supporting the coupling elements of the primary barrier. These coupling means consist of a sliding joint with a double fold disposed between two plates 21 of the primary insulating barrier, the two plates 21 being held by brackets welded to a weld support 18 which forms part of the coupling elements.

Abstract: A monolithic concrete marine vessel hull construction includes an inner hull skin including at least two transversely interconnected, longitudinally, horizontally coextensive hull shells made of vertically slip-formed concrete. Each of these inner hull shells is generally cylindrically curved on inner and outer peripheral surfaces thereof. Each inner hull shell is closed at its opposite ends by end walls. The hull construction further includes an outer hull skin including an outer hull shell made of vertically slip-formed concrete that is transversely spaced from and peripherally encloses the inner hull skin. The outer hull skin is planar on its upper side and curved perimetrically on its lower side. There are a plurality of concrete bulkheads which extend between and effectively interconnect the inner and outer hull skins. The outer hull shell is closed at its opposite ends by bow and stern members. A concrete deck forms an integral part of the planar upper side of the outer shell.

Abstract: The invention is a modular bladder system for confining a liquid cargo and carrying such cargo in a compartment of a transporter vessel. The cargo is confined in a modular plurality of bladders and cargo-filled bladders occupy substantially the entirety of the compartment volume. In one aspect, the system isolates ballast sea water and cargo without unduly limiting vessel cargo-carrying capacity. In event of an accidental hull penetration, the system limits the quantity of the potential spill and the modular bladders can be configured to substantially fill the compartments of a particular vessel.

Abstract: A method and device for constructing a auxiliary hull, exterior to the primary hull of a ship, which has the capacity to absorb impact energy preventing primary hull puncture, and can be easily retrofitted to existing ship hulls. This method and device involves the use of energy absorbing members arranged in a truss-like formation to support the auxiliary hull shell. The auxiliary hull shell can be laminated to weaken interlaminar shear strength and further increase energy absorption during impact and thus prevent auxiliary hull puncture. This method and device also allows for the void spaces created between the primary and auxiliary hull shells to be filled with material which will, distribute the impact forces to the primary hull over a wider primary hull area, serve to support the auxiliary hull shell under hydrostatic forces and provide additional buoyancy forces if the auxiliary hull shell is punctured.

Abstract: A method for converting a single-hull tanker to a mid-deck configuration is disclosed. The midship cargo section of the tanker is cut longitudinally along a horizontal plane well below the normal laden water line. A spacer member including a new transverse mid-deck is interposed between the lower and upper portions of the midship cargo section. The port and starboard outer sections of the midship cargo section of the vessel are cut longitudinally away from the central portions of the midship sections of the vessel, and new longitudinal bulkheads are added. In this way the vessel is provided with port and starboard wing ballast tanks between the hull plating and the port and starboard wing cargo tanks. The center cargo tank is also divided the upper and lower sections, such that the lower section can be converted to ballast in the event double-hulled tankers become mandatory for oil transport.

Abstract: A LNG tank for ships having a heat insulation material applied over the outer circumference thereof, the tank being supported on a ship hull via a vertical cylindrical skirt, wherein a portion of the tank above the equator is formed by a cylinder and by a top portion of the head structure with a upward convex portion, the head structure being arranged above the cylinder, and another portion of the tank below the equator is formed by a part of the sphere having a radius substantially equal with that of the horizontal section of the equator substantially up to the range of the lat. 30.degree., and the remaining portion of the tank further below the range is formed by a flat semi-spherical hull structure which is a part of the laternally elongated ellipsoid of gyration or semi-ellipsoid and having the aspect ratio of substantially 1.5.

Abstract: Each longitudinally successive module of a longitudinally midbody for a tanker (which is preferably a double-walled tanker), is provided with a longitudinal vertical double-walled bulkhead extending between the top and bottom walls of the module. This longitudinal bulkhead may be provided on the longitudinal centerline of a tanker midbody constructed in accordance with the teachings of Cuneo et al., Ser. No. 07/532,329 and/or Goldbach et al. Ser. No. 07/678,802. Reinforcing structure for the longitudinal bulkhead is enclosed between the transversally opposite walls thereof. Within the longitudinal bulkhead, compartments may be provided for carrying fuel oil and/or cargo tanker slops and/or water ballast. The transversally opposite walls are fabricated of steel plates welded at adjacent edges. Inner plates transversally interconnect the walls at the joints between wall plates. The wall plates may be curved, which is preferred, or flat.

Abstract: Marine tankers and cargo tanks for storing hydrocarbon liquids are provided with treated flue gas which is heated to a temperature at least about equal to or in excess of the liquids to be stored in the tanks to minimize the generation and emission of hydrocarbon vapors during loading, storage and transfer of hydrocarbon liquids with respect to the tanks.

Abstract: A ship has on its upper deck a dome disposed between adjacent of transverse bulkheads aligned in the bow-stern direction of a hull and covering an opening in the upper deck. The dome is formed as a hemispherical shell-like member having a rigid structure. A short cylindrical member connects the circumferential edge portion of the hemispherical shell-like member with the circumferential edge portion of the opening in the upper deck. The transverse bulkheads of the hull are formed as a flexible structure having large openings. In a liquefied gas carrying vessel, a spherical tank for storing liquefied gas is disposed between the adjacent transverse bulkheads of the hull and projects upwards through the opening of the upper deck, and the dome covers the upper portion of the spherical tank.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a novel floating storage facility for fluid-like materials which can be used to store products in a water related environment. The floating storage facility module includes a waterproof pressure compensating diaphragm which is suitable for retaining a fluid-like product within the diaphragm, and (b) a flotation collar associated with the diaphragm to enable the diaphragm to be immersed in a designated manner in the body of water.

Abstract: A double hull ship for the transportation of liquid, high melting aromatic hydrocarbons, such as pitch heated to 200.degree. to 300.degree. C. The tanks are provided with good insulation and with means to introduce inert gas into the tank (1). Heat expansion is allowed for by means of companion expansion joints and sliding bearings (3). Because of the high solidification point of the products, all line systems must be provided with a companion heating system and adequate insulation. A thermal oil system, which simultaneously supplies the emergency heating system (4) of the tank (1), is suitable for this purpose. Separate ballast tanks (17) are installed between the hulls.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an arrangement for returning a small boat from an overturned position to a normal upright position. The boat comprises a substantially enclosed room and a partition provided in the room adjacent the bottom of the craft to form in the room an upper compartment and a lower compartment under the upper compartment. The lower compartment is adapted to contain water, and the partition is adapted to substantially prevent the water from entering the upper compartment when the craft is overturned.

Abstract: A bottom well of a vessel having at least one of a bottom and a broad side has a wall and cover-plate structure attached to the bottom or broad side for, together, defining the bottom wall. An inner space within the bottom well of the vessel has inside surfaces. A water inlet is in one of the bottom or broad side for communication of the inner space with outside water. A water outlet is in one of the wall and cover-plate structure for communication of the inner space with systems of the vessel. At least one resilient body is in the inner space for compensating for volume changes of water in the bottom well caused by the water freezing in the bottom well.

Abstract: A transverseless ship has at least its side portions and bottom portion comprised of a double hull construction which comprises an inner hull plating and an outer hull plating connected together only by transverse bulkheads and a plurality of connecting longitudinal members fixed to the bulkheads. The bottom portion of the ship has a space defined by at least two optionally selected connecting longitudinal members and divided by a partition into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The upper chamber is adapted in its entirety to pass a fluid therethrough. With this structure, external forces acting on the ship are delivered from the connecting longitudinal members to the transverse bulkheads to prevent the inner and outer platings from buckling. The absence of reinforcing transverse members intersecting the connecting longitudinal members assures automatic welding operation with greatly improved efficiency.

Abstract: An improved hull construction of a freight carrier with an upright cylindrical storage tank structure with heat-insulation on the outer circumferential surface thereof and having an upwardly-convex top surface, adaptable for the storage and transportation of high and/or low temperature freight material, which includes a tank bottom insulation disposed on the bottom part of the hull construction upon which the tank structure is mounted in position, tank skirt extending downwardly from the lower part of the cylindrical side plate extension of the tank structure, the upper part of the cylindrical tank skirt being secured to the tank structure, the lower part of the cylindrical skirt being connected to the hull construction, and wherein at least a peripheral part of the tank bottom plate is raised in height toward the peripheral edge and connected to the lower end of the tank side plate, while the upper end of the tank side plate is positioned over the upper deck surface of the vessel so that a substantial part o

Abstract: A ship having at least its side portions and bottom portion comprised of a double hull construction consisting of an inner hull plating and an outer hull plating connected together solely, except for transverse bulkheads disposed in spaced apart relation in the lengthwise direction of the ship, by a plurality of connecting longitudinals fixed to the bulkheads, at least one of the connecting longitudinals having anti-buckling means extending in the lengthwise direction thereof and tripping means extending in the widthwise direction thereof. According to this arrangement, external forces exerted on the ship may be transmitted through the connecting longitudinals to the transverse bulkheads so that the inner and outer hull platings may be protected from buckling. The absence of transverses crossing the longitudinals considerably facilitates the automatization of welding operation.

Abstract: In an insulated spherical tank for containing liquefied gas, said tank comprising a support in the form of a vertical, partially thermally-insulated skirt which forms a unified structure with the tank wall, wherein the insulation in the wedge-shaped region between the skirt and the spherical tank is sealingly joined, the sealed joint is secured with a mechanical connection.

Abstract: In a ship for carrying a low temperature liquid storage tank which is supported on the bottom of a ship's hold by especially horizontal displacement preventive tank supporting structures, a leaked liquid receiving pan is disposed below an engaging member which is extended downwardly from the bottom of the tank. The low temperature liquid leaked from the tank and falling between the engaging member and a heat insulating layer surrounding the tank is received by the leaked liquid receiving pan and does not reach the bottom of the ship's hold, whereby the bottom of the hold is prevented from being cooled.

Abstract: The tank is a modified form of the lobed tank described in British Pat. No. 1522609, whereby the tank ends are of simpler constructional form. Thus, the tank comprises, top, bottom and two opposed side walls (1 to 4) each consisting of parallel, part-cylindrical lobes (11) which are connected and tied together by tie-plates (13, 14) and elongated armed insert elements (16, 17 and 17a). The invention is characterized in that each one of said other two opposed side walls (5, 6) comprises at least two part-lobes (11c) which present straight edges to which the common straight end edges of a series of two-way corner transition (12c) and part-transition (12d) pieces are joined, and in that the end of each part-lobe (11c) has a respective part-transition piece (12d) joined thereto to present a curved edge to which a part-spherical three-way corner (12b) can be joined to close-off the side wall (5 or 6).

Abstract: Cryogenic insulation system for containers for storage of cryogenic liquefied gases such as LNG (liquid natural gas), comprised of a low temperature resistant metal, preferably high nickel steel, membrane or liner supported by a layer of reinforced foam insulation. There is provided at corners, for example at 90.degree. corners, and disposed within the foam insulation layer, a corner structure comprised of a low temperature resistant metal, preferably high nickel steel, e.g. Invar, angle member, to which such membrane is attached, a support or back-up member for such angle member, a plurality of low thermal conductivity high strength metal, e.g. stainless steel, strips or fingers attached as by welding, to the angle member, such fingers being in the plane of the membrane, the fingers being attached at their outer ends to connectors which are attached to the container wall or ship hull. The fingers transmit loads from the metal membrane through the container wall or ship hull.