Re-use of vessels for transporting deck payloads

Abstract

A system for transporting a payload in a marine environment that utilizes a converted vessel having at least one internal space, at least one interface system securingly attached to said vessel to support in a seaworthy fashion a payload above and/or at the vessel's deck.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for transporting a payload in a marine environment, said system comprising: 
 a vessel having at least one internal space, wherein said vessel is converted from an existing marine vessel;    at least one interface system securingly attached to said vessel, wherein said interface system is configured to support, in a seaworthy fashion, said payload; and    a deck of said vessel positioned between a significant portion of said interface system and said at least one internal space.    
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said vessel further having at least one void positioned between said internal space and said marine environment forming a double hull.  
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said vessel is self propelled.  
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said vessel is adapted to be moved by a self propelled vessel.  
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said existing marine vessel is a tanker.  
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said existing marine vessel is a barge.  
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one internal space is a tank adapted to receive fluid material.  
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said fluid is a liquid, and said vessel further comprises at least one material handling system fluidly connected to said tank to load and discharge said liquid.  
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said liquid is ballast water.  
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said liquid is cargo.  
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said at least one material handling system is from said existing marine vessel.  
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said at least one interface system is further configured and securingly attached to said vessel to substantially preserve the original functionality of said tank and said material handling system.  
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one internal space is a cargo hold adapted to receive bulk material.  
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said vessel further comprises at least one material handling system capable of accessing said cargo hold to load and discharge said bulk material.  
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said at least one material handling system is from said existing marine vessel.  
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said at least one interface system is further configured and securingly attached to said vessel to substantially preserve the original functionality of said cargo hold and said material handling system.  
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said at least one internal space is a tank adapted to receive fluid material.  
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said fluid is a liquid, and said vessel further comprises at least one material handling system fluidly connected to said tanks to load and discharge said liquid.  
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said liquid is ballast water.  
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said liquid is cargo.  
     
     
         21 . The system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said at least one material handling system is from said existing marine vessel.  
     
     
         22 . The system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said at least one interface system is further configured and securingly attached to said vessel to substantially preserve the original functionality of said tank and said material handling system.  
     
     
         23 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said at least one internal space is a cargo hold adapted to receive bulk material.  
     
     
         24 . The system as recited in  claim 23 , wherein said vessel further comprises at least one material handling system capable of accessing said cargo hold to load and discharge said bulk material.  
     
     
         25 . The system as recited in  claim 24 , wherein said at least one material handling system is from said existing marine vessel.  
     
     
         26 . The system as recited in  claim 25 , wherein said at least one interface is further configured and securingly attached to said vessel to substantially preserve the original functionality of said cargo hold and said material handling system.  
     
     
         27 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one interface system comprises a network of structural members configured to simultaneously support, in a seaworthy manner, said payload, strengthen globally and locally said vessel, and transfer load forces to said vessel.  
     
     
         28 . The system as recited in  claim 27 , wherein said network of structural members comprises at least one payload support region and at least one foundation region, said at least one payload support region is adapted to receive a wide variety of said payload, and said at least one foundation region comprises a plurality of substantially vertical stanchions interposed and fixed between said at least one payload support region and said deck.  
     
     
         29 . The system as recited in  claim 28 , wherein a substantial number of said stanchions are positioned across a significant portion of said deck and each are securely fixed near a first end to said deck with a second end projecting away from said deck.  
     
     
         30 . The system as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said at least one foundation region further comprises support bracing and web frames attached to a significant number of said stanchions to encourage unity in said at least one foundation region.  
     
     
         31 . The system as recited in  claim 30 , wherein said at least one payload region further comprises a network of substantially co-planar interconnected longitudinal and transverse beams.  
     
     
         32 . The system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said at least one payload region is permanently fixed to a significant number of said second ends.  
     
     
         33 . The system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said at least one payload region is permanently fixed to a substantially mid-portion of a significant number of stanchions so that a significant number of said second ends extend above said interconnected beams.  
     
     
         34 . The system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said at least one payload region can be removably mounted to said at least one foundation region at a number of predetermined planes above said deck.  
     
     
         35 . The system as recited in  claim 34 , wherein said predetermined planes are substantially parallel to said deck.  
     
     
         36 . The system as recited in  claim 34 , wherein said predetermined planes are not substantially parallel to said deck to promote handling of said at least one payload.  
     
     
         37 . The system as recited in  claim 34 , wherein securing pin and receiver arrangements are used to removably mount said at least one payload region to said foundation region.  
     
     
         38 . The system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said at least one payload region is slidably mounted to said at least one foundation region at an infinite number of planes above said deck thereby providing said at least one payload region the ability to articulate about at least three degrees of freedom irrespective of said vessel's trim and list.  
     
     
         39 . The system as recited in  claim 38 , wherein a rack and pinion assembly is interposed between said at least one payload region and said at least one foundation region to achieve said slidable mounting and said articulation.  
     
     
         40 . The system as recited in  claim 38 , wherein a jacking screw mechanism is interposed between said at least one payload region and said at least one foundation regions to achieve said slidable mounting and said articulation.  
     
     
         41 . The system as recited in  claim 38 , wherein said structural members of said at least one interface system have articulated interconnections between each of said members at least significantly reduce binding forces upon said at least one interface system.  
     
     
         42 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said payload is at least one compressed natural gas container.  
     
     
         43 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said payload is at least one intermodal container.  
     
     
         44 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said payload is a hotel accommodation.  
     
     
         45 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said internal space is a tank.  
     
     
         46 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said internal space is a hold.  
     
     
         47 . A method for converting an existing marine vessel with at least one internal space to support, in a seaworthy fashion, a payload subjected to a marine environment, comprising the steps of: 
 constructing at least one interface system configured to support a substantial portion of said payload;    adapting said existing marine vessel to securingly receive said at least one interface system whereby forces from said at least one interface system are substantially transferred to said marine vessel; and    fitting said at least one interface system to said marine vessel without substantially altering the functionality of said at least one internal space to receive and convey materials.    
     
     
         48 . The method as recited in  claim 47 , further comprising the step of constructing at least one void in said marine vessel to form a double skinned marine vessel.  
     
     
         48 . A method for transporting payloads in a seaworthy manner aboard an existing marine vessel, comprising the steps of: 
 installing an interface system in proximity to a deck of said marine vessel, said interface system is configured to support a substantial portion of said payload, and said marine vessel having at least one internal space capable of being loaded and unloaded with material by a material handling system;    supporting a payload by said interface system;    navigating said vessel to a discharge port; and    discharging said payload at said port.    
     
     
         49 . The method as recited in  claim 48 , further comprising the step of constructing an interface system configured to support a substantial portion of said payload above said deck.  
     
     
         50 . The method as recited in  claim 49 , further comprising the step of configuring said interface system to hold and support, in a seaworthy manner, at least one container.  
     
     
         51 . The method as recited in claim  50 , further comprising the step of configuring said container to receive a fluid.