Tug boat - lng barge system with an umbilical power line

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a transport-cargo vessel system configured for travel on water. The vessel system either includes a tug boat section and a barge section configured to interlock. The barge section is configured to carry liquefied natural was (LNG) and includes an LNG electric generator. In some embodiments, the barge section is configured to carry LNG and at least one additional cargo. The additional cargo may include a cargo for resupplying another vessel. The tug boat includes a propulsion system with an electric motor configured to receive electric power generated from multiple fuels. Electricity from the barge's generator is provided to the tug boat's motor via a power umbilical line.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for supplying electrical power from a first marine vessel to a second marine vessel, comprising:
 an LNG fuel tank and an LNG-fueled electric generator on the first marine vessel;   at least one electric motor configured to provide propulsion for the second marine first marine vesselvessel, and   an electrical umbilical coupled between the LNG-fueled electric generator and the electric motor.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a non-LNG-fueled electric generator configured as an alternative power supply for the at least one electric motor.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the non-LNG-fueled electric generator is disposed on the first marine vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the on-LNG-fueled electric generator is disposed on the second marine vessel. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the non-LNG-fueled electric generator is a diesel electric generator. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first vessel is a barge and the second marine vessel is a tug boat. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the barge comprises:
 a hull; and   wherein the hull comprises at least one integrated tank configured to hold at least one of: a resupply cargo and LNG.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first marine vessel is configured to resupply a third vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein configuration to resupply includes configuration for at least one of: bunkering, re-provisioning and midstream refueling. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a crane configured to move the resupply cargo.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one integrated tank comprises a first tank configured to hold a resupply cargo and a second tank configured to hold LNG. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the resupply cargo includes at least one of: i) MGO, ii) hydraulic fluid, iii) bio-fuel, iv) lubricant, v) distillate fuel, and vi) water. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the barge comprises:
 a hull; and   at least one non-hull integrated tank configured to hold a resupply cargo.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the barge is configured to meet certification requirements for operation on at least one of: i) high seas, ii) U.S. inland waterways, iii) foreign inland waterways, iv) U.S. ports, and v) foreign ports. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the barge is dimensioned for travel on U.S. inland waterways. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the electric motor is coupled to a non-propulsion electrical system. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the barge and the tug boat form an articulated tug-barge. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electric motor comprises:
 three electric motors; and   further comprising:
 three propulsion units disposed on the second marine vessel; 
 wherein each is the three electric motors corresponds to one of the three propulsion units and is configured to supply mechanical power to the corresponding propulsion unit. 
   
     
     
         19 . A method of providing electrical power to a second marine vessel from a first marine vessel, the method comprising steps of:
 generating electricity on the first marine vessel using an LNG-fueled electric generator disposed on the first marine vessel; and   providing the generated electricity to at least one electric motor configured for propulsion on the second marine vessel, wherein the electricity is provided using a power umbilical.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 providing electricity to the at least one electric motor using a non-LNG fueled electric generator when the generated electricity from the LNG fueled electric generator is not available.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the non-LNG-fueled electric generator is disposed on the first marine vessel. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the non-LNG-fueled electric generator is disposed on the second marine vessel. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the non-LNG-fueled electric generator is a diesel electric generator. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first marine vessel comprises a barge configured to carry LNG fuel and a cargo. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cargo comprises LNG and a resupply cargo. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the resupply cargo comprises at least one of i) MGO, ii) hydraulic fluid, iii) bio-fuel, iv) lubricant, v) distillate fuels, and vi) water. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising a step of:
 moving at least part of the resupply cargo from the first marine vessel to the second marine vessel using a crane.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the crane is mounted on the first marine vessel. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , 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.