ES431350A1 - Vessel for flotation loading and unloading and partial buoyancy support of barges and other floating cargoes - Google Patents

Abstract

A vessel for transporting, on a body of water, cargo consisting of barges, pontoons, and lighters, and other floating cargoes. The hull has a bow, a stern, and water-tight buoyancy compartments in side walls. The hull also has a perforate bottom shell with rigid supporting and reinforcing structure, enabling the cargo hold to be flooded and open to the sea under all conditions while loading, in transit, and during discharge. A hinged gate is provided at either or both ends of the hull for rapid flotation loading and unloading of the floating cargo, and each gate closed during transportation of the cargo. The vessel carries means for moving the cargo into, out of, and within the hold. A series of vertical pistons secure the floating cargo units by exerting a downward force to bring the cargo to bear on the hull structure. The water in the hold, having communication with the sea, provides buoyancy for the cargoes secured therein. This buoyancy supports most of the deadweight of floating cargoes, so that typically only a minor portion of the deadweight is carried by the vessel. In the case where the buoyancy of some cargo unit in the secured position exceeds its weight, such as in a lightly loaded barge, a transfer of buoyancy to the vessel assists the vessel in supporting the heavier floating cargo units. Thus such buoyancy and the transfer of buoyancy by floating cargo units to support the cargo's own weight reduces the load carried by the vessel, enabling a structural saving in its weight this, together with rapid loading and unloading, provide a more efficient transportation system.