Abstract: The transportation of oil and gas under high pressure in tanks on board a ship is carried out by loading and unloading the oil/gas utilizing a suitable pressurized liquid, for example water, in the individual tanks, whereby during loading, a tank or a group of tanks containing pressurized liquid are filled with oil and gas while the pressurized liquid simultaneously is displaced into the next tank or group of tanks which are to be filled, after which the said next tank/group of tanks are filled and the pressurized liquid displaced into a third tank/group of tanks, etc., and that during unloading, the cargo in one tank or one group of tanks is removed by introducing a pressurized liquid into the tank/group of tanks, and unloading of the cargo in the next tank/group of tanks occurs by transferring the pressurized liquid from the said first tank/group of tanks to the next.

Abstract: A hollow reinforced concrete sphere can be used as a container for transporting compressed gas, such as natural gas. Such containers can be interconnected and towed from one place to another by an ocean-going tugboat. Each container is formed with three band-like groups of reinforcing rings. Each group has its reinforcing rings disposed at right angles to the reinforcing rings in the other groups. The inner and outer surfaces of the container walls can be covered with a desired coating. In constructing the containers, they can be built at the water's edge and then rolled into the water.

Abstract: Machinery arrangement for LNG ships consisting of a diesel engine and a combined gas turbine-steam turbine-electrical system. The diesel engine and the electromotor drive a vp-propeller. The diesel engine burns only bunker oil, while the combined gas turbine-steam turbine plant burns boiled off gas from the cargo.

Abstract: A system whereby use is made of a double bottom tank, in fluid communication with a bag made of reinforced elastomeric material to provide segregated ballast space in the cargo space of a ship. The double bottom space and bag are filled with ballast water when the cargo space is empty, thereby making use of the cargo space in which the bag is located to carry ballast water in space previously occupied by cargo, without having any cross-contamination of the ballast water by the cargo residues or gases. The outward and upward movement of the bag is restricted by a rigid guide cage. An open, or partially open, topped rigid container is placed around the guide cage to restrict the "free surface effect" of the ballast water in the unlikely event of failure of the ballast bag. A header tank is provided to keep a positive pressure head on the water in the bag when in the ballast condition. A semi-flexible float assists in guiding the bag during ballasting and de-ballasting operations.

Abstract: A system for transferring fluid between two marine tankers, including a first articulated loading arm mounted on the first tanker and a second loading arm or other suitable receiver mounted on the second tanker. The first loading arm is guided into operating contact with the second arm or receiver by laser tracking and ranging equipment, and by a computer which computes the location of the end of the first loading arm relative to the second arm or receiver. After the first loading arm and the receiver are connected together, the computer calculates the position of the outboard end of the first loading arm, compares this position to a set of safe operating boundaries, and provides a warning signal whenever the end of the arm moves outside any of these safe boundaries. When the end of the first arm moves outside a critical boundary the computer provides a disconnect signal which shuts down the loading operation and disconnects the first loading arm from the second arm or receiver.

Abstract: An enclosure for the below deck storage of volatile or flammable fluids, in compressed gas tanks which is sealed from the vessel interior, but downwardly vented to the outside so that tank or cannister leaks find a preferred path of safe exhaust while the cannisters are conveniently stored within. The enclosure includes a sealed housing which is adapted to be mounted to a bulkhead in a vessel and which has an opening on one side thereof and a lid removable from the opening in the housing to gain access to the interior thereof. Means are provided for sealing the lid to the housing. The base of the interior of the housing is molded to conform to the shape of a lower end of one or more cannisters containing the pressurized fluid for support of the cannisters within the housing against motion caused by movement of the vessel. The lid is also molded to conform to the shape of the top of the cannisters for restraining further movement of the cannister.

Abstract: An improved tanker vessel for carrying a plurality of liquid cargoes each having a specific gravity which is less than that of sea water. The vessel includes a hull comprising a bottom and sides, a top deck, at least one cargo compartment disposed between the top deck and the hull bottom for storing the liquid cargo, and a main liquid cargo charging and discharging system coupled to the cargo compartment for charging and discharging the compartment. The improvement comprises an additional liquid cargo charging and discharging system coupled to the cargo compartment which includes a longitudinal pipe and transversely disposed branch lines coupled to the longitudinal pipe. The branch lines include a suction opening disposed in and opening into the compartment at a distance above the hull bottom which is approximately equal to H(S.sub.w /S.sub.c)-0.10H, where H represents the distance from the bottom of the vessel to its waterline, S.sub.w represents the specific gravity of sea water, and S.sub.

Abstract: A floating flexible structure which can be filled with liquid is defined by pieces fixed by side seams. The seams are rendered buoyant by trapped balls. A vent in the upper part of the container has under it a net bag filled with balls to maintain gas passage. A transverse tube of netting rendered buoyant by balls maintains liquid flow for discharge through a hose.

Abstract: A buffer system for liquid cargo-carrying tankvessels including closed, flexible buffer tanks in way of at least the bottoms of the cargo tanks and apparatus to transmit a buffer fluid to and from the buffer tanks to selectively provide buffer protection for the cargo against penetration of at least the tank bottoms. The buffer tanks are also used for carrying clean ballast and for carrying cargo which is incompatible with the cargo carried in the cargo tanks.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for dispensing a liquid additive to the surface of a receding liquid in a pressurized vessel, particularly for automatically dispensing a liquid oil spreading agent to the surface of ballast water contained in a pressurized tank of a cargo carrier having oil based material at least partially floating on the surface thereof.

Abstract: A shipbuilding complex having a dry dock with a dock adjacent area, and a flooding chamber which is adjacent to the head of the dry dock and communicates therewith. An intermediate gate divides the dry dock into a main part which is adjacent to the water area, and a head part which is next to the flooding chamber. The flooding chamber and the head part of the dry dock make up a two-level docking basin. A method for building vessels in this shipbuilding complex is as follows. The aft end and components of the parallel middlebody are assembled in the dock apron area and successively transferred to the upper floor of the junction chamber, whereupon they are floated to and placed on the lower floor of the docking basin to be then transferred to the main part of the dry dock. The latter is used to join together the aft end and the parallel middlebody components, whereupon the preassembled fore end is joined to these to complete the hull.

Abstract: An automatic pneumatic pumping system of the type using two or more pumping tanks which are filled in alternate sequence with liquid from a common source and are alternately purged by air pressure so as to effect a continuous and uninterrupted flow of the liquid into a common discharge line, wherein exhaust pumping air is used to create additional head within the liquid supply tanks and the creation of vacuum is used for system and auxiliary use. A preferred application of the system to marine vessels, for example a barge, is described (FIGS. 2-5), along with two special valves, a cargo valve of "top hat" design (FIG. 6) and a cargo inlet feed valve of a two-port wafer type (FIGS. 7A-C).

Abstract: An arrangement for dividing the free liquid surface of a liquid cargo contained in a general cargo or bulk cargo ship. The arrangement includes parallel upright metal sheets forming a plurality of parallel shieldings and a plurality of compartments located side by side. The sheets are adapted to be attached in the horizontal hatch of a ship with the metal sheets vertically upright in the hatch. While arranged in the hatch, the lower edges of the sheets are located below the free liquid surface of the liquid cargo and the upper edges of the metal sheets are located at or above the free liquid surface of the liquid cargo.

Abstract: A tanker having a bow part, a stern part, and a midship tank part between them with a inner bottom therein. The midship tank part is divided by bulkheads into cargo tanks above the inner bottom, segregated deep ballast tanks at the same level as the cargo tanks, and segregated double bottom ballast tanks under the inner bottom.

Abstract: A tanker vessel for carrying liquid cargoes having a specific gravity which is less than that of sea water. The vessel includes a hull, comprising a bottom and sides, a top deck and at least one cargo compartment. The top deck is located at a distance above the hull bottom which is approximately equal to H(S.sub.w /S.sub.c), where H represents the distance from the bottom of the vessel to its waterline, S.sub.w represents the specific gravity of sea water, and S.sub.c represents the specific gravity of the liquid cargo. The compartment is filled with cargo to a point below the top deck of the vessel which is located at a distance above the vessel's bottom which is approximately equal to H(S.sub.w /S.sub.c -0.03H.In another embodiment, the top deck is located at a distance above the hull bottom which is approximately equal to H(S.sub.w /S.sub.c.sbsb.L), where S.sub.c.sbsb.

Abstract: A method and system for dispersing oil in the event of an oil leak into a body of water from an oil tanker or an oil drilling platform. There is provided structure for detecting the existence of a leak from a container of oil generally surrounded by a body of water into which the oil is leaking; structure for storing an oil dispersant at the site of the leak; and structure responsive to the occurrence of the leak, for automatically causing the dispersant to be released from the containment structure into the leaking oil. In an oil tanker, the system and method may be implemented by providing structure for detecting a leak in the oil tank wall, suspending a container of dispersant inside the oil tank, and providing structure for rupturing the dispersant container in response to the detection of a leak so that dispersant is caused to mix with the oil in the tank before the oil leaks therefrom.

Abstract: An improved spill overflow prevention system for tanker vessels comprising a longitudinally disposed trunk line, branch lines coupled at one end to the trunk line and at the other end to the cargo compartments of the vessel, valves coupled to the branch lines intermediate the ends thereof for permitting the free flow of fluid chemical and petroleum products from the cargo compartments to the trunk line through the branch lines, and a retention tank disposed in the vessel and coupled to the trunk line for receiving fluid chemical and petroleum products from the trunk line. Fluid chemical and petroleum products overflowing from the cargo compartments of the vessel are directed from the compartments through the branch lines and trunk line to the retention tank thereby preventing overflow of the products externally of the compartments. The branch and trunk lines are dimensioned so as to prevent any overpressurization of the compartments during an overflow.

Abstract: A ship has a plurality of open-top recesses in the deck thereof in which substantially fluid-tight, relatively light-weight, buoyant containers are held solely by the force of gravity and by frictional forces. Those containers substantially fill those recesses. If the ship were to sink, the containers would automatically eject, responding to the weight of the water which they displaced to rise up out of those recesses and float upright in open water. Thereafter, those buoyant containers would confine the contents thereof until those containers could have the contents thereof transferred into other ships at sea or could be towed to shore to be emptied, thereby preventing accidental spills of oil or other liquid cargo.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an oil spill containment device for aquatic vessels including a flotation collar structure surrounding the periphery of the vessel to be contained, apparatus for deploying this collar including in one embodiment compressed air dispensing equipment and a cable deploying device which pays out and retracts cable as a function of tidal currents, and a sheet structure depending from and extending upwardly above the collar to constrain any oil slick or any potential thereof. Also contemplated herein is a compartmentized and containerized storage system for fuel within a cargo ship so as to minimize the likelihood of a catastrophic spill.

Abstract: A tank vessel for the transportation of liquid cargo having a specific gravity which is less than that of water. The vessel includes a hull comprising a bottom and sides, a top deck, and at least one transverse bulkhead disposed within the hull forming a plurality of watertight cargo compartments between the top deck and the hull bottom. The improvement of the invention comprises a watertight horizontal bulkhead disposed within the hull between the top deck and the hull bottom above the waterline of the tank vessel and at a distance above the hull bottom which is less than or equal to H(S.sub.w /S.sub.c), where H represents the vertical height of the waterline of the vessel above the hull bottom, S.sub.w represents the specific gravity of water, and S.sub.c represents the specific gravity of the liquid cargo.

Abstract: An improved fluid transfer system for a tanker vessel adapted for the transportation of fluid chemical and petroleum products in water. The vessel includes a hull comprising a bottom and sides, a top deck, a plurality of watertight cargo compartments disposed within the hull between the top deck and the hull bottom for receiving the fluid products, cargo expansion trunks coupled to and opening downwardly into each of the cargo compartments, branch vent lines coupled to the cargo expansion trunks and including pressure/vacuum relief valves, and a longitudinally disposed trunk vent line including a pressure/vacuum relief valve coupled to the branch vent lines and communicative with the atmosphere for venting contaminated gases formed by the fluid products and contained within the cargo compartments of the vessel from the cargo compartments through the cargo expansion trunks and the branch vent lines to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A transport vessel especially used in connection with the transportation of liquid gases, e.g., natural gas, includes means for isolating storage tanks from the hull of the vessel to minimize the deformations to the tank from the hull. In this way, the thickness and hence weight of the tanks may be significantly reduced.

Abstract: A storage tank 1 is divided into oil and ballast water chambers 3, 4 by an elastic partition membrane 2. To prevent the membrane from blocking the oil and water intake/discharge ports 5, 6 during the final stages of loading or unloading, the internal edges and corners of the tank are chamfered by apertured partition plates, supported wire mesh screens or the like, and the intake/discharge ports communicate with the spaces defined behind such plates or screens.

Abstract: In a marine vessel adapted to carry liquids such as crude oil which embodies a certain amount of solid residue, apparatus is provided for removing the latter from the vessel's storage tanks. The liquid crude is normally removed by a manifolded discharge or eductor system communicated with the suction side of a pump. The eductor system includes a plurality of individually controlled open ended discharge conduits, each conduit being fixedly positioned with its inlet port spaced above the floor of the tank to withdraw liquid from the tank. A portable cleaning apparatus is provided to remove accumulated sludge and the like from the tank floor, which cleaning apparatus is adapted to removably engage a discharge conduit whereby to ingest sludge from the latter.

Abstract: Each of compartments of an oil tanker is divided by a flexible membrane into first and second sections one of which is used as an oil chamber. The membrane is made of an oil-resistant and chemical-resistant material. When an oil is loaded, the second section is unloaded, the second section is filled with a ballasting seawater, crashing the first section.

Abstract: A combination venting and antipollution device for a shipboard liquid storage tank. A closure wall divides the vent conduit into a lower tank chamber in direct communication with the tank and an upper vent space in direct communication with the vent opening. A spring-urged valve closure member opens or closes an opening through the closure wall. Low pressure in the tank moves the valve closure member down into a lower open position, to admit air or other fluid to the tank; high pressure in the tank moves the valve closure member up into an upper open position to vent air from the tank. A hydrostatic pressure chamber open to the atmosphere houses a sealed bellows, and a spill-lock valve secured to the bellows normally opens to the vent a spill-lock chamber on the vent side of the valve closure member.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for venting hydrocarbon gases from the cargo compartments of a tanker vessel for the transportation of oil in water, which tanker vessel includes a hull comprising a bottom and sides, a top deck, a plurality of watertight cargo compartments disposed in the hull between the top deck and the hull bottom for receiving the oil, and vent means coupled to each of the cargo compartments and communicative externally of the compartments for venting hydrocarbon gases to and from the cargo compartments and the atmosphere during loading, discharge and transfer of oil and ballast from the compartments.

Abstract: A support device for an independent tank, wherein a first support member secured to the tank is adapted to be supported on the top surface of a second support member attached to a ship's hold. Particularly in the case of a spherical tank, a horizontal ring projecting from adjacent the equator of the spherical tank is adapted to be supported on a support deck installed around the inner periphery of a ship's hold, with a pressure-resistant heat insulating material interposed between the ring and the support deck. In such support device, an anti-floating member is provided on and projects from either the first support member or the second support member through the other member without touching the same. When the tank tends to float up, the free end of the anti-floating member and the mating member engage each other with the pressure-resistant heat insulating material interposed therebetween, thereby preventing the floating up of the tank.

Abstract: A special type of tank that can be built into or placed in the cargo space of a ship to contain ballast water or another liquid without cross-contamination with the cargo residues, i.e. allowing for the carriage of segregated ballast in the cargo space. Allowance is also made for double-bottom space in the ship's loaded condition. A large part of the top, or lid, of the special tank is movable in a vertical direction from the highest part of the tank to the lowest part of the tank and special machinery and safety devices are fitted to expedite this movement. A rubber or flexible fabric sheet, which is watertight, connects the moveable and stationary part of the tank top and divides the tank into an upper and a lower section between which there is no communication. The flexible sheet is designed to take the internal contours of the inner tank when the cargo is loaded.

Abstract: A rigid thin shell container for transporting liquified gas in marine tankers at near ambient pressure, constructed of completely developable flat plate, the contour of which is octagonal everywhere in horizontal section but curvilinear in side elevation, with eight sides linear in plan but curved vertically to form circularly or elliptically arched shell surfaces, intersecting in a point at the top, and connected at the base to an octagonal flat bottom which permits the container to be seated directly upon the insulated ship's innerbottom.

Abstract: With a storage tank temporarily held in the correct position, an abutment plate is applied to the lower surface of each of support chocks projecting from a plurality of places circumferentially of the storage tank toward a support deck and in this condition such adjusting plates are temporarily fixed at the support deck as by bolts. A molding flask for preventing the outflow of resin material is placed to surround each abutment plate. Subsequently, a liquid resin material which, upon setting, becomes resistant to pressure and low temperature is poured into a space surrounded with the molding flask between the abutment plate and the support deck. After the resin has set, the storage tank is in the correctly installed condition supported by a support block formed of the resin. The upper surface of the support block serves as a slide surface provided by the abutment plate.

Abstract: An articulated branch assembly comprising pipe member and appropriately arranged combinations of fluid carrying swivels, ball joints, or rubber hose is fixed to the outboard end of a conventional marine cargo loading arm. The branch assembly is used for bunkering vessels while the arm is supported off the cargo manifold adjacent to the bunker manifold. Fitting marine cargo arms with the bunkering assembly and supporting the arm off the cargo manifold permits, for a large percentage of vessels, simultaneous bunkering and cargo transfer through the other cargo arms in the bank. The branch assembly also: eliminates in many cases the need for a separate bunker arm(s), avoids overstressing of the smaller, weaker bunker manifolds, and makes the bunker manifolds more accessible without resorting to long lengths of hose or auxiliary bunkering saddles.

Abstract: Apparatus for the marine transshipment of a liquid such as oil from a supply tanker to a transport tanker, comprises an elongated vessel having a horizontal track portion extending lengthwise thereof. The horizontal track terminates adjacent one end of the vessel in an inclined track portion that extends down to the end of the vessel at least as low as the water line. Horizontal rails extend along opposite sides of the horizontal track portion and beyond the horizontal track over the inclined track portion. A trolley rides on these rails and is winch-operated to pull a flexible conduit up onto the horizontal track portion when the conduit is not in use for the transshipment of liquid.

Abstract: A process for reducing the stresses in a vessel consisting of building a hull with a number of compartments and fitting into each an independent cargo tank for the storage of liquefied gas. Before the cargo tanks are fitted, the hull in the region of each compartment along the central transverse section thereof is subjected by ballasting to a predetermined vertical static bending moment in the absence of the tank, and thereafter each tank is installed in the hull while maintaining the predetermined vertical static bending moment so that the maximum stresses to which the tank will be subjected under different sailing conditions will be substantially reduced.

Abstract: A ship for liquid cargoes, e.g. an oil tanker, has two longitudinal bulkheads giving central and wing areas and transverse bulkheads dividing the areas into tanks. The wing areas have upper cargo tanks and lower ballast tanks, but the latter have vertical portions extending to deck level giving for example an L-shaped configuration.

Abstract: To load oil on tankers in which the tank holds are previously filled with water, for ballast, and to avoid the formation of explosive vapors, oil is introduced at a higher pressure level into the tank hold than the pressure required to displace the water, while, simultaneously, the water is drawn off, by pumps or syphon action; preferably, the oil is introduced into the tanker from a level above that of the highest point of the tanker level, and water is drawn out from the bottom of the tank hold to a storage reservoir having its highest point below the lowest of the tank holds of the tanker. To unload the oil, oil is withdrawn from the top of the tanker hold into a receptacle below the level of the bottom of the tanker hold, and replaced by water introduced into the bottom of the tanker hold from a level above that of the tanker hold, withdrawal and introduction of fluids into the tanker hold being carried out simultaneously.

Abstract: A marine tank mount for vessels characterized by a proximately horizontal rack mounted on a deck or other member of the vessel and provided with an opening. A tank is mounted on the rack, with the annular bottom flange of the tank extending downwards through the opening. A pair of diametrically opposed holes are provided in the flange below the level of the rack, and a locking bar which may or may not be made of spring-like material is inserted through the holes, whereby the tank is attached to the vessel above the deck of the vessel. The tank will typically contain a fuel such propane, butane or gasoline or other highly volatile and inflammable fuel, or may alternatively contain a fluid chemical or the like which may be corrosive in nature.

Abstract: A monolithic ship's body is formed of a hull containing bulkhead partitions disposed in a hexagonal arrangement to form a grid symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the hull. The partitions are formed integrally with the hull. The junction between the side walls and the bottom of the hull is curved. Further, the bottom of the hull also has a curved configuration transversely of the longitudinal axis providing alternating convex and concave surfaces so that the bottom acts a hollow arch. The deck is formed integrally with the hull and the bulkhead partitions and is curved transversely to the longitudinal axis with its upper surface being convex. Steel concrete or prestressed concrete can be used in forming the monolithic ship's body.

Abstract: A ship for the simultaneous storage and transport of a high density flowable bulk cargo and a lower density general cargo. The ship includes a hull, a main deck and a hold below the main deck adapted to store the flowable bulk cargo therein. A plurality of loading decks are arranged fixedly above the main deck and extend over a substantial portion thereof in spaced superposed relation. Conveying devices such as mechanical conveyors or conduits and pumps are mounted beneath the main deck and extend lengthwise of the ship so as to convey the flowable bulk cargo from one end of the ship towards the other end for discharge into selected sections of the hold.

Abstract: An expansion joint lock for transmitting forces between structural members that contract as they are cooled down to operating temperatures. A piston member mounted to one structural member is slidingly engaged with a chamber in a reception member which is mounted to a second structural member. The remaining space in the chamber is filled with a liquid which freezes at a temperature somewhat above the operating temperature of the structure, allowing forces to be transmitted between the structural members by the frozen liquid.

Abstract: A system installed within a tanker vessel for collecting all residue oil within a single tank of the vessel so that ballast water within other tanks can be readily discharged into the sea, without oil pollution thereof, prior to refilling with oil; the system consisting of a floating oil collector in ach tank that collects all oil above a water surface therewithin, the collected oil being transported through a pipe to the single collection tank; and the vessel already incorporating systems for pumping sea water into the tanks to serve as ballast, and for pumping the ballast water back into the sea thereafter.

Abstract: A ballasting system for oil tankers and other ships for separating the oil nd the water ballast which eliminates oil contamination and pollution in ballasting and deballasting ships. Flexible fabric-reinforced or stretchable membranes are attached in liquid sealing relationship within the oil tank all around at the athwartships quarter-points to thereby preclude flow between the oil and ballast water. Ballast water is contained in the tank on one side of the membranes while the oil cargo or the flowable cargo is separated on the other side of the membranes. The entire tank can be maintained full for ship stability and prevention of sloshing of the fluids.

Abstract: A ship for the transport of liquid or gaseous cargo (especially liquid gas) in tanks comprises a plurality of supporting hulls, a plurality of cargo tanks, and a connection structure superimposed on said hulls and maintaining the tanks spaced above the hulls and accessible from all sides. The abeam dimension of the tanks is preferably smaller than the abeam dimension of the connected hulls.

Abstract: A method of constructing low temperature liquefied gas tanker ships equipped with containers made of low temperature resisting material, the containers each being positioned in a hold space defined by the inner wall of a hull and a bulkhead with interposition of a heat insulating layer, characterized by forming tank assemblies each being composed of the container, said heat insulating layer covering the outer surface of the container and a water-tight layer provided over the heat insulating layer, floating the tank assemblies on the surface of the water at the positions just above the hold spaces of the hull which is kept sunk in the water, and making at least either the tank assemblies or the hull come closer to each other so that the tank assemblies are inserted into the corresponding hold spaces of the hull, whereby the construction of the tanks can be proceeded separately from and in parallel with the hull construction to spare time and the tank assemblies are mounted into the hold spaces of the hull with

Abstract: In a large ocean going oil tanker vessel having water ballast compartments that cannot be utilized for oil cargo also the amount of ballast water required to submerge the vessel to a predetermined ballast draft is reduced by cutting away a portion of the midbody of the hull starting at and extending below the predetermined ballast draft waterline on the sideshell, thereby reducing the amount of buoyancy in the hull that the ballast weight must overcome to sink the vessel down to the ballast draft.

Abstract: A conduit vent-and-valve combination especially adapted for tank ships employing gas-inerting of cargo tanks. It includes location of the vent and valve adjacent to one another in the conduit, and employs mechanical interlock between the valve hatch cover and an extension of the valve stem in order to prevent closing the hatch unless the valve is fully open.