Ships – Building – Freighters
Patent
1997-11-25
1999-05-04
Swinehart, Ed
Ships
Building
Freighters
114 74R, B63B 2512
Patent
active
058991620
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method of reconstructing a liquid carrying tank vessel, such as an oil tanker, and to the reconstructed vessel. More particularly, this invention relates to a method 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.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Over the past few years, at least in part as a consequence of several major ecological disasters involving tank vessels carrying oil or oil products, it has become apparent that the transport of oils chemicals, oil products, and similar materials in single hulled vessels is undesirable. When such a hull is involved in an accident the cargo tanks within the hull inevitably are breached, and the cargo escapes, usually into the sea or other waterway. This is the case for both liquid cargoes, such as crude oil, and bulk loaded particulate cargoes. The action of a tidal or current flow only serves to exacerbate the problem, as it causes the released pollutants to spread further.
Further, as a vessel ages, be it a tanker or anything else, its hull plates get thinners due to the combined effects of erosion and corrosion. In order to counter this effect, there are regulations specifying the minimum thicknesses required for the outer hull plating of vessels, including single hulled tankers. These minimum thicknesses have to be somewhat thinner than the original hull plate thickness that was used when the vessel was built. Consequently an older single hull vessel presents a somewhat greater risk than a newer vessel, quite simply because its thinned outer plates are more easily punctured.
The ship building art is replete with designs for vessels which are built new with a double hull. An early example is the hull described by Shone, in U.S. Pat. No. 424,508 of 1890. There are many later ones, such as Rodriguez, U.S. Pat. No. 3,631,832; Telfer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,030,438; Murata et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,491; Cuneo et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,161; and Arnett et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,031. In all of these patents, a double hull construction technique is described which is to be used in constructing a new hull. None of these methods appear to be relevant to reconstructing a single bottom hull into a double bottom one.
It has also been proposed to make bulk liquid carrying vessels more resistant to hull puncture by providing a flexible liner within the cargo tanks. Liners of this type are described by Kassinger et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,272 and Faghri, U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,812. In Kassinger the liquid liners are suspended from the vessel deck line, thus providing a double bottom of sorts, so that impact of the hull on, say, a rock might puncture the hull, but leave the liner intact. As described, there is a space around the liners between them and the cargo tanks, which will allow the liners to sway laterally with the motion of the ship. What effects such motion might have on ship stability are not discussed. Further, as there is free space between the cargo tanks and the sides and bottoms of the liners mounted within the cargo tanks, the bulk capacity of the vessel is diminished. In Faghri the liners are attached to the cargo tank walls, which include the inboard surfaces of the hull. Faghri also describes sensors which are intended to detect any leakage into the tank space through the liner.
It has also been proposed to add an outer casing to the hull of a vessel, usually, to quote Swanson in U.S. Pat. No. 2,298,661 "to protect the ship against the explosive effect of torpedoes, mines, and other destructive agents". Krulikowski, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,218,919 also describes a way of strengthening a hull for essentially the same purpose. These proposals always seek to contain and to dissipate the energy associated with the impact without exposing the underlying hull to damage. Krulikowski proposes to apply his technique to protecting tankers. Whilst the radical
REFERENCES:
patent: 424508 (1890-04-01), Shone
patent: 1319462 (1919-10-01), Daugherty
patent: 2298661 (1942-10-01), Swanson
patent: 3021808 (1962-02-01), Henry
patent: 3332386 (1967-07-01), Massac
patent: 3631832 (1972-01-01), Rodriguez
patent: 3671315 (1972-06-01), Iarossi
patent: 3848559 (1974-11-01), Tarossi
patent: 4030438 (1977-06-01), Telfer
patent: 4162658 (1979-07-01), Okabe et al.
patent: 4660491 (1987-04-01), Murata et al.
patent: 5085161 (1992-02-01), Cuneo et al.
patent: 5158031 (1992-10-01), Arnett et al.
patent: 5189975 (1993-03-01), Zednik et al.
patent: 5203272 (1993-04-01), Kassinger et al.
patent: 5218919 (1993-06-01), Krulikowski et al.
patent: 5225812 (1993-07-01), Faghri
patent: 5477797 (1995-12-01), Stuart
Schiff Und Haven, Meissner & Jensen, Sep. 1994.
Translation Into English Of Schiff Und Haven, Meissner & Jensen.
Beaupre Richard C.
Verreault Rejean
Les Industries Verreault (1991) Inc.
Swinehart Ed
Wilkes Robert A.
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