System and method for containerized transport of liquids by marine vessel

Abstract

A specialized vessel, of either ship or barge form, that is capable of holding a large number of ISO-sized intermodal LNG tanks and is configured to have the characteristics of both a tanker vessel (e.g., a gas carrier) and a container vessel. The intermodal LNG tanks connect to a piping system of the marine vessel and are thereby interconnected so as to allow the interconnected intermodal LNG tanks to behave as if they constitute a typical LNG vessel bulk liquid tank to facilitate efficient loading at a typical marine LNG terminal. The containerized intermodal LNG tanks are capable of discharging liquids to a marine terminal as if in a bulk mode, or of being disconnected from the common interconnection system to allow lift-off discharge of the intermodal LNG tanks at a typical cargo container port so that the intermodal LNG tanks can enter the existing intermodal transportation system.

1 . A marine vessel that is capable of loading and unloading LNG at an LNG marine terminal and at a container port. 
     
     
         2 . A marine vessel, comprising:
 a piping system; and   a plurality of intermodal LNG tanks individually and detachably connected to said piping system;   wherein said plurality of intermodal LNG tanks can be simultaneously filled with LNG at an LNG loading facility and can be lifted off the marine vessel individually at a container facility.   
     
     
         3 . The marine vessel of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of intermodal LNG tanks can be discharged as if in a bulk mode to an LNG facility. 
     
     
         4 . The marine vessel of  claim 2 , further comprising a vent system incorporated in said piping system, wherein LNG vapor is vented from said plurality of intermodal LNG tanks to said vent system. 
     
     
         5 . The marine vessel of  claim 2 , further comprising a vapor system incorporated in said piping system, wherein boil-off gas from said plurality of intermodal LNG tanks is provided to said vapor system. 
     
     
         6 . The marine vessel of  claim 5 , wherein said boil-off gas is reliquefied by said vapor system. 
     
     
         7 . The marine vessel of  claim 6 , wherein said reliquefied boil-off gas is returned to said plurality of intermodal LNG tanks by said piping system. 
     
     
         8 . The marine vessel of  claim 5 , further comprising engines that consume said boil-off gas. 
     
     
         9 . The marine vessel of  claim 5 , further comprising a gas combustor unit that consumes said boil-off gas. 
     
     
         10 . The marine vessel of  claim 5 , wherein said boil-off gas is vented to the atmosphere. 
     
     
         11 . The marine vessel of  claim 2 , further comprising a liquid transfer system incorporated in said piping system, wherein LNG is transferred from said plurality of intermodal LNG tanks to said transfer system. 
     
     
         12 . The marine vessel of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one manifold coupled to said transfer system for loading LNG onto said marine vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The marine vessel of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one manifold coupled to said transfer system for unloading LNG from said marine vessel. 
     
     
         14 . The marine vessel of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one tank for bulk storage of LNG. 
     
     
         15 . The marine vessel of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one tank for bulk storage of LNG is connected to said plurality of intermodal LNG tanks by a piping system. 
     
     
         16 . The marine vessel of  claim 15 , wherein LNG is transferred from said at least one tank for bulk storage to at least one of said plurality of intermodal LNG tanks. 
     
     
         17 . The marine vessel of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one tank for bulk storage is located above the main deck of said marine vessel. 
     
     
         18 . The marine vessel of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one tank for bulk storage is located below the main deck of said marine vessel. 
     
     
         19 . A method for transporting LNG intermodally, said method comprising:
 providing a marine vessel with a piping system;   interconnecting a plurality of intermodal LNG tanks to said piping system; and   simultaneously filling said LNG tanks with LNG at an LNG marine terminal as if in a bulk mode.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said interconnecting step comprises the step of detachably securing said plurality of intermodal LNG tanks to said piping system. 
     
     
         21 - 38 . (canceled)