Mobile floating deck barge with containment and waste water recycling system

Abstract

A mobile floating deck barge system is provided for use in performing work on the underside of a bridge or other structure extending over a body of water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile floating deck barge system for use in performing work on an underside of a structure extending over a body of water, the system comprising:
 a barge that can float on the body of water, said barge having a containment well for receiving blast waters and/or debris from said work;   a working deck platform, having openings through which blast waters and/or debris can pass to the containment well;   a lift mechanism installed on the barge, said lift mechanism supporting said working deck platform and configured to move the working deck platform between a lowered rest position and an elevated working position proximate the underside of the structure;   a miniskirt attachable to the underside of the structure and extending to the working deck platform when the working deck is in the elevated working position, said miniskirt inhibiting release of blast waters and/or debris from the system; and   a containment bag extending from the working deck to the barge when the working deck is in the elevated working position, said containment bag inhibiting release of blast waters and/or debris from the system.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said work comprises constructing, inspecting, repairing, cleaning, prepping, painting, or performing maintenance on the underside. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a recycling system for receiving blast waters collected in the containment well, removing particulate matter from the blast waters, and collecting the particulate matter for removal. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the recycling system is located on the barge or on another barge. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the recycling system recycles the blast waters for reuse. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the recycling system comprises a multi-chambered settling tank and screen system and a pump for moving blast waters collected in the containment well through the multi-chambered settling tank and screen system. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the multi-chambered settling tank comprises a plurality of drums that can be removed to dispose of collected particulate matter. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the working deck platform comprises side walls extending at least partly around a periphery of the working deck platform, and wherein the miniskirt extends to said sidewalls. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the working deck platform comprises removable fiberglass grating sections. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lift mechanism can further move the working deck platform in a sideways direction. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the containment bag comprises a plurality of tarps extending from and around a periphery of the working deck platform. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises a bridge. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanism to inhibit damage to the platform by activating a limit switch in the lift mechanism if the platform comes into contact with the structure. 
     
     
         14 . A method of performing work on an underside of a structure extending over a body of water, the method comprising:
 providing a barge that can float on the body of water, said barge having a containment well and a working deck platform on the barge;   raising said working deck platform from a lowered rest position on the barge to an elevated working position proximate the underside of the structure; and   performing work on the underside of the structure from the working deck platform, and passing used blast waters and/or debris from the work through openings in the working deck platform to the containment well, while inhibiting release of the blast waters and/or debris into the body of water.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising recycling the blast waters collected in the containment well by removing particulate matter from the blast waters and collecting the particulate matter for removal. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of recycling is performed on the barge or another barge. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising reusing blast waters recycled in the recycling step. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein performing the work comprises constructing, inspecting, repairing, cleaning, prepping, painting, or performing maintenance on the underside. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising activating a limit switch in the lift mechanism if the platform comes into contact with the structure to inhibit damage to the platform.