System for the collection and distribution of ocean cargo

Abstract

A logistics system for the collection and delivery of ocean freight which includes a carrying vessel adapted to hold a plurality of barge-like cargo modules individually suited for the carriage of containers or autos or liquid or dry bulk or deck cargo. Rather than berth at the ports served in its deployment, the carrying vessel anchors in close proximity to the origin or destination port, and floats off inbound barge modules which are immediately replaced by outbound barge modules, similarly floated on. Therefore, in a short period of time, the carrying vessel can exchange its entire cargo capacity. Harbor tugs ferry the barge-like cargo modules to and from a plurality of marine terminals for stevedoring operations. Meanwhile, the newly loaded carrying vessel is already on its way to its next port of call.

Having described the invention, it is now claimed:  
     
         1 . A logistics system for the collection and delivery of ocean cargo to and from at least one terminal to a single ocean vessel, comprising: 
 means adapted for floating at least one barge-like cargo modules onto a carrying vessel, each of which said cargo module is adapted for carrying in ocean transit at least one of the group consisting of autos, liquid, dry bulk and deck cargo;    means adapted to transport the carrying vessel;    means adapted for floating the at least one of the barge-like cargo modules off the carrying vessel once the carrying vessel is within close proximity of a specified destination port;    means adapted for distributing the at least one barge-like cargo module off the carrying vessel to at least one terminal facility in the destination port for the discharge of their cargo;    means adapted for collecting of at least one new barge-like cargo module from at least one terminal facility at the destination port; and    means adapted for floating the at least one new barge-like cargo module onto the carrying vessel for ocean transit.    
     
     
         2 . A logistics system according to  claim 1  wherein a computer system enables the carrying vessel to compensate for non-homogenous loading conditions created by a carriage of cargo modules of different weight and composition.  
     
     
         3 . The logistics system according to  claim 1  wherein the barge like cargo modules have a maximum capacity of 2250 twenty-foot equivalent unit.  
     
     
         4 . The logistics system according to  claim 3  wherein the carrying ship has a maximum capacity of six barge-like cargo modules.  
     
     
         5 . The logistics system according to  claim 1  wherein the carrying vessel is capable of carrying at least three barge-like cargo modules.  
     
     
         6 . The logistics system according to  claim 5  wherein the carrying vessel is capable of carrying a maximum of six barge-like cargo modules.  
     
     
         7 . The logistics system according to  claim 1  wherein the means adapted for floating at least one of the multiple barge-like cargo modules off the carrying vessel is capable of floating three multiple barge-like cargo modules simultaneously.  
     
     
         8 . The logistics system according to  claim 7  wherein the means adapted for floating at least one of the multiple barge-like cargo modules off the carrying vessel is capable of floating a maximum of six multiple barge-like cargo modules simultaneously.  
     
     
         9 . The logistics system according to  claim 1  wherein the carrying vessel further comprises a water line and comprises ballast means for adjusting the level of the water line.  
     
     
         10 . A logistics system for the collection and delivery of ocean cargo to and from a plurality of terminals to a single ocean vessel, comprising: 
 means adapted for floating a plurality of one barge-like cargo modules onto a carrying vessel, each of which said cargo module is adapted for carrying in ocean transit at least one of the group consisting of autos, liquid, dry bulk and deck cargo;    means adapted to transport the carrying vessel;    means adapted for floating the plurality of the barge-like cargo modules off the carrying vessel once the carrying vessel is within close proximity of a specified destination port;    means adapted for distributing the plurality of barge-like cargo module off the carrying vessel to a plurality of terminal facilities in the destination port for the discharge of their cargo;    means adapted for collecting a plurality of new barge-like cargo module from a plurality of terminal facilities at the destination port; and    means adapted for floating the plurality of new barge-like cargo module onto the carrying vessel for ocean transit.    
     
     
         11 . A logistics system for the collection and delivery of ocean cargo to and from a plurality of terminals and in various forms to a single ocean vessel, comprising means adapted for floating a plurality of barge-like cargo modules onto a carrying vessel, each of which said cargo module is adapted for carrying in ocean transit at least one of the group consisting of autos, liquid, dry bulk and deck cargo.  
     
     
         12 . The logistics system according to  claim 11  further comprising means adapted for floating at least one of the plurality of barge-like cargo modules off the carrying vessel in close proximity of their destination port.  
     
     
         13 . The logistics system according to  claim 12  further comprising means adapted for distributing of the barge-like cargo modules off the carrying vessel to a plurality of terminal facilities in the destination port for the discharge of their cargo.  
     
     
         14 . The logistics system according to  claim 13  further comprising means adapted for collecting of at least one new barge-like cargo modules from a plurality of terminal facilities at the destination port.  
     
     
         15 . The logistics system according to  claim 14  further comprising means adapted for floating the at least one new barge-like cargo modules onto the carrying vessel for ocean transit.  
     
     
         16 . A method for the transportation of ocean cargo to and from a plurality of terminals and in various forms by a single ocean vessel, the steps comprising: 
 floating a plurality of barge-like cargo modules onto a carrying vessel, each of which said cargo module is adapted for carrying in ocean transit at least one of the group consisting of autos, liquid, dry bulk and deck cargo, and each barge-like cargo module having an associated destination port;    transporting the carrying vehicle to a close proximity of the destination port of at least one of the barge-like cargo modules;    floating at least one of the plurality of barge-like cargo modules off the carrying vessel.    
     
     
         17 . The method for the transportation of ocean cargo according to  claim 16 , the method further comprising distributing at least one of the barge-like cargo modules off the carrying vessel to at least one of a plurality of terminal facilities in the destination port for the discharge of their cargo.  
     
     
         18 . The method for the transportation of ocean cargo according to  claim 17 , the method further comprising collecting of at least one new barge-like cargo modules from the plurality of terminal facilities at the destination port.  
     
     
         19 . The method for the transportation of ocean cargo according to  claim 18 , the method further comprising floating the at least one new barge-like cargo modules onto the carrying vessel for ocean transit.