Split monohull vessel

Details Split monohull vessel Split monohull vessel

1999-10-12

2001-07-24

Avila, Stephen (Department: 3617)

Ships

Displacement-type hull

C114S061100, C114S07700R

Reexamination Certificate

active

06263818

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to water-borne vessels and more particularly to split hull ships.
BACKGROUND
The continuing search for oil and gas resources has led to exploration, drilling and production in a variety of offshore locations, some of which may involve travel by a vessel through waterways having size constraints which preclude the passage of typical monohull vessels. Ships, vessels, and offshore platforms which are too large to be practically towed or transported to these offshore locations have been assembled at the offshore destination site from multiple sub-assemblies which are separately towed or otherwise transported to the offshore destination site. However, these structures are not suitable substitutes for monohull vessels for various reasons, including economic ones.
Split hull ships, such as split hopper dredge ships, have been built and used for dredging operations. In such ships, the purpose of the split hull is not to facilitate transport through waterways which otherwise would restrict the size of the ship, but instead is intended to enable the ship to be filled during dredging operations, and the contents then “dumped” at a remote location. Split hopper dredge ships usually have deck hinges and bottom hydraulic jacks which permit controlled opening and closing of the hull at the bottom in “clamshell” fashion. Examples of split hopper dredge ships include the “Vlaanderen XX” operated by the Belgian company Baggerwerken Decloedt en Zoo N.V.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the invention is a vessel comprising at least two sub-hulls and an attachment mechanism that joins the sub-hulls together. In one embodiment of the invention, the sub-hulls comprise independent vessels. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the sub-hulls form a symmetrical monohull vessel when joined together. In one embodiment of the invention the sub-hulls can be joined using fused bolt or sliding bolt foundations.
A particular embodiment of the invention includes a recessed portion on the side of each sub-hull which is to be joined to a corresponding side of another one of the sub-hulls. The recessed portion reduces the displaced volume of the joined side of the sub-hull so that an amount of ballast needed to balance the sub-hull is reduced. In one example of this embodiment, the volume of the recessed portion is selected so that with respect to the center line of the sub-hull the displaced volume of the joined side substantially matches the displaced volume of the other side of the sub-hull.
Another aspect of the invention is a method for assembling a vessel, comprising providing at least two sub-hulls and attaching the sub-hulls together.


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Newspaper Article, unknown newspaper, unknown date; Tony Gray: “AESA wins Transocean drillship orders”.
Notice of References Cited in U.S. Application 09/296,898.

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