Ballast and de-ballast system and methods
AssigneeCrowley Technical Services
InventorJayant K. Roy Choudhury
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ballast and de-ballast system and method for an articulated tug barge (ATB) or integrated tug barge (ITB) are described herein. The system includes a tug ballast tank located on the tug, the tug ballast tank being configured to hold ballast water; and a barge trim tank located on the barge, the barge trim tank being configured to hold ballast water. The system further includes at least one umbilical line connecting the tug ballast tank to the barge trim tank. The system is configured to transfer ballast water between the tug ballast tank and the barge trim tank via the at least one umbilical line.
Claims16
A ballast and de-ballast system comprising:
- a tug ballast tank located on a tug, the tug ballast tank being configured to hold ballast water;
- a barge trim tank located on a barge, the barge trim tank being configured to hold ballast water;
- one or more pumps configured and arranged to pump water into and out of the tug ballast tank into and out of the barge trim tank;
- one or more valves configured and arranged to control a flow of water into and out of the tug ballast tank;
- and
- at least one umbilical line configured to fluidly connect the tug ballast tank to the barge trim tank to transfer ballast water between the tug ballast tank and the barge trim tank,
- wherein the one or more valves comprises:
- a first valve connected to the tug ballast tank and to the one or more pumps;
- and
- a second valve connected to the barge trim tank via the at least one umbilical line and to the one or more pumps,
- wherein the first valve and the second valve are configured to be opened during de-ballasting when transferring water from the tug ballast tank to the barge trim tank and to be closed during ballasting when transferring water from the barge trim tank to the tug ballast tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.