Complete integral tank double-hull cargo containment system vessel in maritime service

Abstract

A complete double-hull cargo containment vessel includes a primary hull and a secondary hull disposed within the primary hull. The primary hull includes a topside deck structural member. The secondary hull includes an interior cargo containment tank. The secondary hull includes a topside structural member configured to seal the cargo containment tank. The primary hull is configured to serve as a first boundary between an operating environment of the vessel and the cargo. The secondary hull is configured to serve as a second boundary between the operating environment of the vessel and the cargo. The topside deck member of the primary hull and the topside structural member of the secondary hull are configured to provide a double-hull on the topside of the cargo containment tank.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A complete double-hull cargo containment vessel for transporting hot cargo, comprising:
 a primary hull; and   a secondary hull integrally disposed within the primary hull, wherein the secondary hull comprises an interior cargo containment tank for the hot cargo, and wherein the secondary hull comprises a topside structural member configured to seal the cargo containment tank.   
     
     
         2 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a heat exchanger; and   a heating coil disposed within the interior cargo containment tank.   
     
     
         3 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the primary hull defines an exterior of the vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the primary hull comprises a second topside deck structural member. 
     
     
         5 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the primary hull comprises a bottom side structural member. 
     
     
         6 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the primary hull comprises a port side structural member and a starboard side structural member. 
     
     
         7 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the primary hull is water tight. 
     
     
         8 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the primary hull is configured to serve as a first boundary between an operating environment of the vessel and the cargo. 
     
     
         9 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary hull comprises a bottom side structural member. 
     
     
         10 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary hull comprises a port side structural member and a starboard side structural member. 
     
     
         11 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 10 , wherein the secondary hull comprises a port side structural member and a starboard side structural member are comprised of corrugated plating members. 
     
     
         12 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary hull is oil or chemical tight. 
     
     
         13 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary hull is configured to serve as a second boundary between an operating environment of the vessel and the cargo. 
     
     
         14 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the topside structural member of the secondary hull is a corrugated plate. 
     
     
         15 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the topside structural member of the secondary hull comprises a plurality of panel stiffening beams. 
     
     
         16 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the sealed cargo containment tank formed by the secondary hull requires a reduced size heat exchanger to maintain the hot cargo at a minimum temperature. 
     
     
         17 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the sealed cargo containment tank formed by the secondary hull requires a reduced number of heating coils to maintain the hot cargo at a minimum temperature. 
     
     
         18 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the sealed cargo containment tank formed by the secondary hull reduces an amount of energy required to power a heat exchanger used to maintain the hot cargo at a minimum temperature. 
     
     
         19 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the sealed cargo containment tank formed by the secondary hull reduces an amount of insulation required to allow walking on the topside deck structural of the primary hull. 
     
     
         20 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the sealed cargo containment tank formed by the secondary hull reduces a cost associated with coating the cargo containment tank for the hot cargo. 
     
     
         21 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 4 , wherein the topside deck structural of the primary hull and the topside structural of the secondary hull are configured to provide a double-hull on the topside of the cargo containment tank. 
     
     
         22 . A method of manufacturing a complete double-hull cargo containment vessel, the method comprising the steps of:
 fabricating a primary hull;   fabricating a secondary hull integrally disposed within the primary hull, wherein the secondary hull comprises an interior cargo containment tank, and wherein the secondary hull comprises a topside structural member configured to seal the cargo containment tank.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 disposing a heat exchanger on the cargo containment vessel; and   disposing a heating coil within the interior cargo containment tank.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the primary hull defines an exterior of the vessel. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the primary hull comprises a topside deck structural member. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the primary hull comprises a bottom side structural member. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the primary hull comprises side structural members. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the primary hull is water tight. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the primary hull is configured to serve as a first boundary between an operating environment of the vessel and the cargo. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the space between the primary hull and the secondary hull is configured as a ballast. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the secondary hull comprises a bottom side structural member. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the secondary hull comprises side structural members. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the secondary hull is oil or chemical tight. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the secondary hull is configured to serve as a second boundary between an operating environment of the vessel and the cargo. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the topside structural member of the secondary hull is a corrugated plate. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the topside structural member of the secondary hull comprises a plurality of panel stiffening beams. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the sealed cargo containment tank formed by the secondary hull requires a reduced size heat exchanger to maintain hot cargo at a minimum temperature. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the sealed cargo containment tank formed by the secondary hull requires a reduced number of heating coils to maintain hot cargo at a minimum temperature. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the sealed cargo containment tank formed by the secondary hull reduces an amount of energy required to power a heat exchanger used to maintain hot cargo at a minimum temperature. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the sealed cargo containment tank formed by the secondary hull reduces an amount of insulation required to allow walking on a topside deck of the primary hull. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the sealed cargo containment tank formed by the secondary hull reduces a cost associated with coating the cargo containment tank for cargo. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the topside deck of the primary hull and the topside structural member of the secondary hull are configured to provide a double-hull on the topside of the cargo containment tank. 
     
     
         43 . A complete double-hull cargo containment vessel comprising:
 a primary hull; and   a secondary hull integrally disposed within the primary hull, wherein the secondary hull comprises a plurality of interior cargo containment tanks, and wherein the secondary hull comprises a topside structural member configured to seal the cargo containment tanks.   
     
     
         44 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 43  wherein the tanks contain asphalt or sulfur. 
     
     
         45 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 43  wherein the plurality of the tanks includes a first tank containing asphalt and a second tank containing sulfur. 
     
     
         46 . The complete double-hull cargo containment vessel of  claim 43  wherein the tanks contain heated asphalt and heated sulfur.