Versatile transport-delivery vessel system

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a versatile transport-cargo vessel system configured for travel on water. The vessel system either includes a single self propelled vessel or a tugboat section and a barge section configured to interlock. The self propelled vessel or the barge section is configured to carry liquefied natural gas and at least one additional cargo. The additional cargo may include a cargo for resupplying another vessel. The cargo may include at least one of marine gas oil, lubricant, distillates, bio-fuels and water. The disclosure also relates to a method of resupplying a second vessel using the versatile transport-delivery vessel.

1 . A marine vessel, comprising:
 a marine vessel configured to carry LNG and a resupply cargo.   
     
     
         2 . The marine vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the marine vessel comprises:
 a tug boat; and   a barge configured to carry the LNG and the resupply cargo, wherein the tug boat and the barge are configured to interlock.   
     
     
         3 . The marine vessel of  claim 2 , wherein the barge comprises
 a hull; and   wherein the hull comprises at least one integrated tank configured to hold the resupply cargo.   
     
     
         4 . The marine vessel of  claim 2 , wherein the barge comprises:
 a hull; and   at least one non-hull integrated tank configured to hold the resupply cargo.   
     
     
         5 . The marine vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the resupply cargo includes at least one of: MGO, ii) hydraulic fluid, iii) bio-fuel, iv) lubricant, v) distillate and vi) water. 
     
     
         6 . The marine vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the marine vessel is configured to meet certification requirements for operation on at least one of i) high seas and ii) US inland waterways. 
     
     
         7 . The marine vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the marine vessel is dimensioned for travel on US inland waterways. 
     
     
         8 . The marine vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the marine vessel is configured to resupply a second marine vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The marine vessel of  claim 8 , wherein configuration to resupply includes configuration for at least one of: bunkering, re-provisioning, and midstream refueling. 
     
     
         10 . The marine vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a crane configured to move the resupply cargo.   
     
     
         11 . A method of resupplying a second marine vessel, the method comprising:
 resupplying the second marine vessel with a resupply cargo from a first marine vessel, the first marine vessel being configured to transport LNG and carry the resupply cargo.   
     
     
         12 . The method  claim 11 , wherein the first marine vessel comprises:
 a tug boat; and
 a barge configured to carry the LNG and the resupply cargo, wherein the tug boat and the barge are configured to interlock. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the resupplying step comprises:
 moving at least part of the resupply cargo from the first marine vessel to the second marine vessel using a crane.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the crane is mounted on the first marine vessel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the resupplying step comprises:
 pumping the at least part of the resupply cargo from an integrated tank on the first marine vessel to a tank disposed on the second marine vessel.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein moving the at least part of the resupply cargo comprises:
 pumping the at least part of the resupply cargo from a non-integrated tank on the first marine vessel to a tank disposed on the second marine vessel.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the resupplying step comprises at least one of bunkering, re-provisioning, and midstream refueling. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the resupply cargo comprises at least one of: i) MGO, ii) hydraulic fluid, iii) bio-fuel, iv) lubricant, v) distillate and vi) water. 
     
     
         19 . A marine vessel, comprising:
 a tug boat; and   a barge configured to interlock with the tug boat, wherein the tug boat and the barge are configured for operation on an ocean and an inland waterway.   
     
     
         20 . The marine vessel of  claim 19 , wherein the barge is configured to carry LNG and a resupply cargo. 
     
     
         21 . The marine vessel of  claim 20 , wherein the barge comprises:
 a hull; and   wherein the hull comprises at least one integrated tank configured to hold the resupply cargo.   
     
     
         22 . The marine vessel of  claim 20 , wherein the barge comprises:
 a hull; and   at least one non-hull integrated tank configured to hold the resupply cargo.   
     
     
         23 . The marine vessel of  claim 20 , wherein the marine vessel is configured to resupply a second marine vessel. 
     
     
         24 . The marine vessel of  claim 23 , wherein configuration to resupply includes configuration for at least one of: bunkering, re-provisioning, and midstream refueling. 
     
     
         25 . The marine vessel of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a crane configured to move the resupply cargo.   
     
     
         26 . The marine vessel of  claim 20 , wherein the resupply cargo includes at least one of: i) MGO, ii) hydraulic fluid, iii) bio-fuel, iv) lubricant, v) distillate and vi) water. 
     
     
         27 . The marine vessel of  claim 19 , wherein the marine vessel is configured to meet certification requirements for operation on at least one of i) high seas and ii) US inland waterways. 
     
     
         28 . The marine vessel of  claim 19 , wherein the marine vessel is dimensioned for travel on US inland waterways. 
     
     
         29 . A method of transporting LNG, the method comprising:
 transporting the LNG on a first marine vessel configured for operation on an ocean and an inland waterway, wherein the first marine vessel comprises:
 a tug boat; and 
 a barge configured to interlock with the tug boat. 
   
     
     
         30 . The method  claim 29 , wherein the first marine vessel is configured to carry a resupply cargo; and the method further comprising:
 resupplying a second marine vessel with the resupply cargo from the first marine vessel.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the resupplying step comprises:
 moving at least part of the resupply cargo from the first marine vessel to the second marine vessel using a crane.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the crane is mounted on the first marine vessel. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the resupplying step comprises:
 pumping the at least part of the resupply cargo from an integrated tank on the first marine vessel to a tank disposed on the second marine vessel.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein moving the at least part of the resupply cargo comprises:
 pumping the at least part of the resupply cargo from a non-integrated tank on the first marine vessel to a tank disposed on the second marine vessel.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the resupplying step comprises at least one of: bunkering, re-provisioning, and midstream refueling. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the resupply cargo comprises at least one of i) MGO, ii) hydraulic fluid, iii) bio-fuel, iv) lubricant, v) distillate and vi) water.