Abstract: A shock absorbing cushioning mat designed to protect the compartment liner of a liquid or oil carrying sea going vessel from tear or puncture by steel from the vessel's structure being forced inward by the external pressure created by grounding or collision of a bulk liquid carrying sea going vessel, while providing a firm yet flexible foundation for the compartment liner to eliminate or greatly reduce the potential for spillage of the cargo. The present invention also addresses the problem of compartment liner fasteners coming apart due to the continued motion of a sea going bulk liquid carrying vessel graveling across a body of water.

Abstract: A double hull vessel is disclosed having a novel type of ballast tank element. That ballast tank element has a half-breadth double-bottom ballast tank and a side ballast tank. The half-breadth double-bottom ballast tank has a tank access trunk that is located within the double-side of the hull. Preferably, that tank access trunk is at least one frame space wide. The side ballast tank is located within the double-hull, and is adjacent to the tank access trunk. Preferably, the ballast tank elements are used in pairs which are adjacent and opposite from each other. These pairs of ballast tank elements can be used in conjunction with double-hull ballast tank elements having no internal subdivisions.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a stripping gutter for a liquid cargo vessel having therein a liquid carrying tank defined between the bottom of the vessel, forward and aft bulkheads, and the starboard and port sides of the hull of the vessel, with a sump disposed in the bottom on the centerline of the vessel at the aft bulkhead of the tank, the stripping gutter including: first and second, inclined, generally triangular plates; the first plate being attached to the inner surfaces of the aft bulkhead, the starboard side, and the bottom, such that the first plate slopes forwardly from top to bottom and forwardly from an inner apex at the sump to an outer edge at the starboard side; and the second plate being attached to the inner surfaces of the aft bulkhead, the port side, and the bottom, such that the second plate slopes forwardly from top to bottom and forwardly from an inner apex at the sump to an outer edge at the starboard side; whereby, when the vessel trims by the stern as the vessel is unloaded, residual l

Abstract: A vessel for carrying a liquid cargo having a density less than that of the water supporting the vessel is provided with internal transverse and longitudinal bulkheads defining chambers of a total cargo storage space. A horizontal safety bulkhead extends longitudinally and transversely of the vessel and is connected to the sides, the end and intermediate transverse bulkheads and the longitudinal bulkheads, thereby forming the available liquid cargo storage space into a plurality of inner and outer upper and lower cells. This horizontal safety bulkhead is located to be below a predetermined waterline corresponding to a fully loaded condition of the ship, preferably at a distance between 5 ft. and 10 ft. below the waterline. Each of the upper and lower cells is individually vented to atmosphere.

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: Outflow of oil from a damaged tanker having some tanks dedicated for carriage of oil and others for sea water ballast is minimized by transferring oil out of the upper part of any damaged tank to one or more empty ballast tanks. This is accomplished by installing a passageway in bulkheads common to a cargo tank and a ballast tank which is normally closed by a one-shot valve including an annular flange secured to one end of a section of pipe, a blank flange secured to said one end of said pipe by a short, thin, cylindrical sealing ring and a hydraulic hose compressed between the flanges which, when pressurized, ruptures the sealing ring to release the blank flange and open the passageway to allow oil to flow from the damaged cargo tank to a ballast tank.

Abstract: In a ballast tank internal gas controlling type tanker in accordance with the present invention which comprises an inert gas main pipe 1a which supplies inert gas from an inert gas generator 1 to a cargo oil tank via a fan 2 and a ballast main pipe 5 which sucks ballast water from the bottom of a ballast tank 11 via a suction bell-mouth, an air intake pipe 3 is installed which can be connected to the fan 2 by selectively switching over from the inert gas generator 1, and a connecting pipe 4 having a valve is interposed between the ballast main pipe 5 and the inert gas main pipe 1a, so that a gas which is allowed to flow into the inert gas main pipe 1a from one of either the inert gas generator 1 or the air intake pipe 3 via the fan 2 is transferred to the ballast main pipe 5 to control the internal gas in the ballast tank 11.

Abstract: A protective composite liner for installation inside a vessel, such as a supertanker, is proposed with an outer layer of high strength fibers, a middle layer of flexible, high strength, resilient film material, and an inner chemical resistant layer. Means for anchoring the protective composite liner and sensor means for detecting a leak are further provided for use with the liner of the present invention.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting the environment from liquid spills, such as oil, when ocean going vessels become damaged and leak, having a flexible, durable and waterproof material deployed around the vessel to form a double hull type apparatus. Thus, having all vessels, which carry cargo dangerous to the environment, equipped with an apparatus that would automatically surround it if it sprang a leak would help to protect the environment. An apparatus, whereby when not in use is stored inside a protective housing, and when needed, would be powered by power units to pull the protective sheeting around the vessel, sealing the bow and the stern of the vessel, but allowing the propulsion system of the vessel to continue to operate, powering the vessel.

Abstract: An emergency bulk liquid handling system for tankvessels suffering damage which incapacitates their primary liquid cargo system wherein valving in the normal cargo loading drop lines, deck headers and tank walls combined with means to prime the deck headers and drop lines provides a backup cargo offloading path which bypasses the damaged system and allows movement/offloading of liquid cargo despite the otherwise incapacitating damage.

Abstract: Relocation of the guide and control system for a seawater ballast/cargo oil, horizontal separation diaphragm, from the lower portion of the cargo tank of an oil tanker to the main deck level, with a corresponding increase in the length of the diaphragm membrane and the guide cylinder, thereby allowing the diaphragm full travel from top to bottom of the tank and vice versa. This relocation enables the total volume of the cargo tank to be utilized for the carriage of two different liquids, at different times, without cross-contamination occurring between the cargo being carried and any residue remaining at in the tank from the previous cargo e.g. a marine very large crude oil carrier (VLCC) fitted with a diaphragm in each of its cargo tanks, could carry a full cargo of crude oil from the Arabian Gulf to Europe or Japan and return with a full cargo of fresh water for industrial or agricultural use.

Abstract: A system of puncture-resistant and tear-resistant flexible skin, placed inside the steel cargo tanks of existing or newly-built crude/product carriers (oil tankers), enclosing their liquid cargo with a leak-proof seal while creating a void space between the outer surface of the flexible skin and the inner surface of the steel tanks. The purpose of the invention is to prevent leakage of cargo to the sea in case of groundings or collisions, wherein the steel bottom or side hull of the ship is breached but the flexible inner skin remains intact due to the distance separating it from the steel outer hull and its property to deform, yield or "give". Arrangements and means of attachment are further described.

Abstract: A valve structure for connecting an oil tank to a ballast tank separated by a bulkhead includes a butterfly valve bolted to a short section of flanged pipe which is welded or bolted to the bulkhead separating the two tanks in combination with a rupturable disk fitted within the pipe section and capable of withstanding the maximum pressure of either a full ballast tank or a full cargo tank. A cutting edge is secured to the rotatable disk of the butterfly valve which, upon opening of the butterfly valve, slices the disk sufficiently to assure its collapse and failure by liquid flowing through the opened butterfly valve.

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 double hull vessel is disclosed having a novel type of ballast tank element. That ballast tank element has a half-breadth double-bottom ballast tank and a side ballast tank. The half-breadth double-bottom ballast tank has a tank access trunk that is located within the double-side hull. Preferably, that tank access trunk is at least one frame space wide. The side ballast tank is located within the double-hull, and is adjacent to the tank access trunk. Preferably, the ballast tank elements are used in pairs which are adjacent and opposite from each other. These pairs of ballast tank elements can be used in conjunction with double-hull ballast tank elements having no internal subdivisions.

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: A rupture in a portion of the cargo hold area of a liquid-bulk carrier cargo ship is closed by inserting a flexible, liquid-tight bag through a hatch into the hold, then pumping fluid contained in the hold back into the bag to deploy the bag. The pumping is continued until the bag has deployed far enough to cover the rupture. Such covering prevents further leakage of the cargo out of the hold. The preferred form of the invention includes the use of the ship's pumping system; however, alternative forms of the invention include self-contained units. The preferred form of the bag includes Spectra material.

Abstract: An improved method for loading crude oil into a tank or tanks of a tanker ship wherein a layer of foam is used to suppress the formation of hydrocarbon vapors during the loading operation. The foam is generated at a point remote from the tanks and is then supplied to the bottom of the tanks through the already-existing crude oil loading manifold aboard the tanker.

Abstract: Outflow of oil from a damaged tanker having some tanks dedicated for carriage of oil and others for sea water ballast is minimized by transferring oil out of the upper part of any damaged tank to one or more empty ballast tanks. This is accomplished by installing a passageway in bulkheads common to a cargo tank and a ballast tank which is normally closed by at least a one-shot valve including a blank flange bolted to a section of pipe and a hydraulic hose compressed by the flange which, when pressurized, breaks the bolts to release the flange and open the passageway to allow oil to flow from the damaged cargo tank to a ballast tank.

Abstract: The invention includes an expandable closed-off container mounted within the tank. A pump system is coupled to the container for pumping the oil from the tank to the interior of the container. In one embodiment, the apparatus is mounted to a support structure located in proximity to the bottom of the tank and is expandable upward and outward therefrom with the pump system mounted in proximity to the bottom of the tank. In a second embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is mounted in proximity to the top of the tank and is expandable downward and outward. An individual pump is attached to the container.

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 tanker is divided into multiple cargo tanks for carrying liquid cargo such as oil. Each tank has a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls. Each tank is provided with a generally horizontal wall that divides the tank into upper and lower zones. The upper zone is located between the horizontal wall and the top wall, while the lower zone is located between the horizontal wall and the bottom wall. The horizontal wall is located near the water line of the tanker and is oil tight so as to eliminate the head pressure of the oil in the tank in the event the lower zone is ruptured.

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 system and method 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 effected tank or tanks. A partial vacuum below atmospheric pressure is created in the ship's 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. If the rupture is below the water line and on the side hull, then surface tension dynamics induce a stratified flow, forcing water into the tank through the lower part of the rupture while forcing the oil upward and out of the tank, oppositely to the flow of water, until the water level reaches the top part of the rupture. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention even the stratified flow is stopped because a non-structural barrier is placed over the rupture.

Abstract: Transient Damage Strategy (TDS), for waterborn cargo and passenger vessels, functions to prevent or to greatly mitigate pollution of waters, and to reduce hazarding of stability and buoyancy of ships subsequent to underwater penetration of tanks and other water, oil, and air tight spaces. The TDS process, which incorporates the use of existing ship's systems and is comprised of common "off the shelf" components, with the exception of one valve, herein referred to as a "ventlock" valve, effectively functions to prevent liquid tank contents, such as oil, from escaping outboard through underwater hull penetration, to prevent water intrusion into empty spaces through underwater hull penetration, and to enable transfer of uncontaminated oil or other contents from damaged tanks to undamaged tanks.

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.

Abstract: A system for alleviating oil spills from an oil tanker which includes a pump having an intake extending into the oil compartment within the tanker, and a flexible container coupled to the pump for receiving oil from the pump. The flexible and collapsible container is adapted to be lowered over the side of the oil tanker as it is receiving oil from the pump, so that the container floats along side of the vessel until its oil is reclaimed.

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: An overfill protecting arrangement for a liquid storage tank comprises in combination a venting valve and a spill valve. The arrangement is designed for a maximum permissible loading rate, and the venting valve is so dimensioned that at this loading rate the tank pressure will assume an equivalent value substantially lower than a safety limit value prescribed by the authorities. The spill valve is a quick-opening valve, preferably a magnetic value, which has an opening pressure distinctly higher than said equivalent value of the tank pressure and lower than said safety limit value. The drops of pressure caused by a flow of liquid at the loading rate into the venting valve system and out of the fully open spill valve are so co-ordinated that flow of gas out of the spill valve and flow of liquid out of the venting valve cannot occur at any circumstances.

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: An assembly for impeding the spillage of petroleum from a damaged oil tanker includes one or more liners made of permeable fabric material provided with reinforcing ribs in the shapes of triangles of two sizes. Triangles of a large size are surrounded by triangles of a small size, such that two small triangles are disposed along each side or edge of a large triangle. The small triangles thus have a side length approximately one half of the side length of the large triangles. The ribs are made of synthetic resin which permeates the fabric material. The liner material is also utilizable, particularly if coated, for a collapsible temporary storage bag which may be inflated in an emergency and pumped full of petroleum from a perforated storage compartment of a damaged tanker.

Abstract: An on-board oil spill prevention and recovery system for an oil transporting vessel. The system includes a pillow storage container which releasably houses a plurality of sorbent pillows. The container is fixedly attached to said vessel above a hole cut in the deck of the vessel above an oil holding tank thereby permitting the pillows to be selectively released to the interior of the holding tank. The system further includes a sorbent boom selectively deployable in the waters surrounding the vessel.

Abstract: Outflow of oil from a damaged tanker of "segregated ballast" type having some tanks dedicated for carriage of oil and others for water ballast is minimized by transferring oil out of the upper part of any damaged tank and minimizing the reduction of draft at the damaged area. This is accomplished by installing sluice valves and piping to connect each cargo tank to one or more ballast tanks and providing controls therefor which, in case there is leakage from a cargo tank, are operative to open appropriate valves to allow oil to flow from the upper part of the damaged cargo tank to one or more ballast tanks, which would be empty.

Abstract: A fish hold construction for a fishing vessel, wherein the vessel is provided with a longitudinally extending water flume fish alley. Fish move with the help of gravity and water or brine into such fish alley from a plurality of fish storage holds. Water or brine is continuously recirculated through the fish alley to urge the fish along such alley into a fish elevating conveyor for removal from the vessel. A 'tween deck located in vertical alignment with, and above, the fish alley houses pipes, pumps and refrigeration components.

Abstract: Since the superstructure of ships are often very high and bulky they cause a high air resistance to the forward movement of the ship which results in a high fuel consumption of the ship. In order to reduce the air resistance to the forward movement of the ship, a special type of air deflector is arranged in front of the superstructure, which is of such a design that it can be easily fitted and removed at will.

Abstract: In order to reduce the economic impact of segregated ballast requirements for tanker vessels, heavy ballast, for example concrete, is placed in the segregated ballast tanks in amount to occupy 30 to 50% of the free volume of the tank. The rest of the tank may be filled with water ballast. The use of heavy ballast provides a total ballast weight equal to that obtainable with a greater number of tanks filled with water ballast only, thus increasing the available cargo space.

Abstract: A ballast arrangement includes a number of tanks and a pump connected to a sea-chest and having a discharge conduit extending to a level above the top-most tank. A distribution conduit extends to the various tanks and an overflow pipe is connected to the discharge conduit and reaches to a further level, above the first mentioned level, where also an evacuation pipe is connected. The further level will determine the static pressure which may act in any of the associated tanks. The tanks may be connected to the suction side of the pump through by-pass conduits, and a two-way valve is designed so the pump can communicate only with either the sea-chest or with the by-pass conduits.

Abstract: The device for adjusting the mast of a sailboardcomprises a slide (4) accommodating the mast foot via a rubber joint (7) and a safety coupling, this slide being guided adjustably and lockably on a profiled rail (1) countersunk in the sailboard (3) in the longitudinal extension of the latter, wherein, for the formation of a point readily bendable in one plane, the rubber joint (7) between the mast and the slide (4) consists of an upper section (8) and a lower section (9), which sections are connected with each other to be pivotable about a hinge pin (10) arranged perpendicularly to the mast.

Abstract: In order to facilitate temporary storing of oil in an underwater receptacle, for instance the pontoon of a semi-submersible vessel, the receptacle is subdivided by bulkheads into a series of tanks. A first tank is connected to a production unit by way of a conduit, or by way of a branch pipe to a delivery conduit. The tank located remotely with respect to the conduit communicates with the surrounding sea by an opening. The bulkheads are provided with upper and lower openings, respectively, and a screened passage extends between these openings. When oil is supplied to the first tank static or pump pressure will expel water through opening, and oil will fill the tanks in due order in the direction away from the first tank. When oil is withdrawn, water from the surrounding sea will flow in through opening and further on through the tanks towards the first tank.

Abstract: A ship according to the present invention comprises an inner hull plating (1) and an outer hull plating (2) connected together solely by transverse bulkheads (4) and connecting longitudinal members (3) fixed to the bulkheads (4). Each bulkhead 4 comprises a rectangular double plate central portion and a rectangular ring form box (11) surrounding the central portion. The box (11) includes a flaring part (11a) internally provided with generally triangular ribs (10) and a peripheral part (11b) of a constant thickness receiving part of the connecting longitudinal members (3).

Abstract: An assembly for carrying cargo which comprises a cylindrical tank rotatable about a horizontal axis and having a torque partition member dividing it into an upper and a lower compartment, rotating rails provided around the periphery of the tank, support rails for guiding and supporting the rotating rails, and means for locking the tank against movement. The compartments of the tank are connected to cargo pipes and gas pipes through a connecting means associated with each tank. A liquid cargo can be loaded in the upper compartment simultaneously with the unloading of the liquid cargo from the lower compartment and the loaded upper compartment can be placed in a lower level position by the rotation of the tank caused by a torque produced by the partition member during loading and unloading.

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 longitudinal connecting member 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 two horizontal partitions into two upper chambers and a lower chamber. The upper chambers are adapted to pass different fluids therethrough, and the lower chamber is provided with docking brackets each conforming to the sectional shape thereof. 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.

Abstract: A piping system in a maritime structure, such as a ship, is subdivided into individual piping units at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal and/or lateral direction along lateral or longitudinal dividing planes. The piping units are disposed and supported on removable pallets mounted on a surface in the interior of the ship, e.g., on a selected deck, or bottom deck of the ship. The open ends of corresponding mating pipes of adjacent piping units are arranged at the dividing planes. The corresponding pipes of one piping unit and corresponding mating pipes of adjacent piping units are connected in a fluid-tight manner by means of removable pipe connectors. The dividing planes may advantageously be made to coincide with a grid having lines which are drawn to divide a deck length and width uniformly. The piping units may be standardized and prefabricated.

Abstract: A ship for transporting a coal slurry comprising a plurality of holds partitioned by transverse bulkheads, each of the holds being provided with a slurry inlet at an upper portion thereof and drain outlets each equipped with a filter and formed in at least one of surrounding walls defining the hold substantially over the entire height of the wall, each hold being provided outside thereof with a drain sump for collecting the slurry water drawn off from the hold through the drain outlets and drainage means for discharging the slurry water from the drain sump.

Abstract: In a suction dredger or the like, intended for use in ice-filled waters, there is an overflow tube with a stationary lower portion and a vertically movable upper portion. At the lower end of the stationary tube portion, there is a closure member partly covering the end opening of the tube. Also at the lower end of the movable tube portion, there is a closure member, which substantially covers that portion of the lower end opening of the movable tube portion, which corresponds to the portion of the bottom opening of the stationary tube portion being left uncovered by the closure member of the stationary tube portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hull of a vessel such as a tanker. The hull is basically composed of three hemispheres, at least of two of the hemispheres having an equal diameter, the three hemispheres being connected to one another such that the lines connecting the center of the hemisphere located at the bow side to the centers of the two hemispheres of the equal diameter constitute two sides of an equilateral triangle. With this hull construction, it is possible to obtain the maximum internal volume with minimized outer surface area, while attaining a superior steering and running performance.

Abstract: A non-permeable liner is utilized to define a first liquid-fillable chamber within a vessel, and cooperates with walls of the vessel to define a second liquid-fillable chamber external to the liner. Separate quantities of liquids are simultaneously transported in these separate chambers. In one application, a liner is utilized to segregate central portions of an oil tanker hold from surrounding portions thereof to provide a central chamber within which potable water can be transported. The liner cooperates with walls of the hold to define a surrounding chamber within which another liquid such as non-potable water can be shipped. In preferred practice the liner is formed from flexible, collapsible, relatively light-weight material which can be installed easily in a vessel such as an oil tanker hold, and which can be collapsed inside the vessel when the vessel is used for transporting a single quantity of liquid such as oil.

Abstract: A slurry carrying ship is characterized by hollow drainage posts provided in each cargo hold beneath the hatch at locations close thereto. Water passages are formed in the interior space of each post which is provided on its side walls with vertical rows of drainage ports and filters attached to the respective ports. Slurry water passes the drainage ports and the water passages and discharges through drain pipes provided at the lower end of the post. These drainage posts, because of their locations, can effectively drain water from coal slurry while reliably supporting the upper structures.

Abstract: A plurality of narrow ballast tanks arranged around the periphery of diaphragms. The peripheral ballast tanks facilitate the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of the diaphragms that segregate the cargo oil from the ballast water in the oil tanker in which they are fitted. The peripheral ballast tanks in general are built along the longitudinal and transverse bulkheads and ship's sides, but they can also be arranged to sub-divide the lower portion of large cargo tanks, they, in effect, form a tank grid about the lower portion of the cargo tanks' space, with the cells in the grid being suitable for the reception of the diaphragms.

Abstract: A method for supplying foam to a tank, said method comprising positioning a foam generator in a housing positioned over a tank opening, installing a foam solution line to provide foam solution to said foam generator, and supplying foam to at least a portion of said tanks. The foam generator in a housing comprises (a) a generally cylindrical body adapted to sealingly engage the tank above an opening in the tank, (b) a plate positioned to sealingly engage a first end of the cylindrical body to form a zone enclosed within the cylindrical body above the opening in the tank, and (c) a foam generator positioned in the enclosed zone for supplying foam to the tank. The method is useful for loading tanker ships.