Method of converting an ocean cargo barge into an offshore manned service barge

A central services module for use in a method of converting an ocean cargo barge to a manned service and construction barge comprising:

• a. an enclosed container having door access thereto;
• b. an electrical switchboard mounted within said container for distribution of electrical power to the barge;
• c. a potable water pump with a pressure tank installed within said container for supplying potable water to the barge;
• d. a fire water pump within said container taking suction directly from the sea;
• and
• e. a fire water discharge manifold connected to said water pump to provide an easy access fire water pumping station mounted externally to said container.

In a method for rapidly and economically converting an unmanned ocean cargo barge to a manned service and construction barge and for reconverging said manned service and construction barge back to an unmanned ocean cargo barge, selectively, and periodically, so as to enable optional use of the vessel in the most expeditious fashion comprising the steps of:

• a. removably affixing to the deck of the cargo barge a central services module means for distributing electrical and other utilities means necessary for human consumption and manpower subsistance;
• b. removably affixing to the deck of the barge a plurality of living quarters in module form and containing bunk means and other subsistance apparatus such as water supply and lights and thereby providing a crew with sleeping, bathing and bathroom facilities;
• c. detachably affixing to the deck of the barge a kitchen module means for storing food and enabling the preparation and servicing of the crew with respect thereto;
• and
• d. removably installing interconnecting piping and wiring from said central services module to said living quarters and kitchen modules thereby enabling manned utilization of the ocean barge for contruction barge service purposes while providing for reconversion thereof to unmanned ocean cargo barge usage without experiencing structural modification to the cargo barge or diminishment of the hull integrity thereof.

In a barge characterized by a hull and deck thereon alternately usable for manned or unmanned operations in which the unmanned operations include utilization of the hull and deck as a cargo carrying means adapted to be moved by external motive power and in which the manned operations include conversion of the hull and appended deck to comprise the following:

• a. a central services module means removably affixed to the barge for providing electrical, plumbing and other human subsistance facilities;
• b. a plurality of living quarters module means for occupation by the crew manning the barge and enabling sleeping and other human subsistance needs;
• c. means for removably and for expeditiously mounting and/or removing the central services module means and living quarter module means to or from the barge in minimal time through the use of hand tools or the like and without violation of the physical integrity of the barge and/or deck thereof;
• and
• d. interconnecting piping and wiring coupling said central services module means to appropriate facilities in said living quarters modules and kitchen modules to thereby enable continued subsistance by personnel on board of said construction barge while enabling facile removal of said various module means without violation of the physical integrity of the barge, so that it may be used as a cargo barge periodically, thus optimizing overall utilization of the hull-deck structure during long term periods.