Method and device for the installation of double hull protection

Abstract

A method and device for constructing a auxiliary hull, exterior to the primary hull of a ship, which has the capacity to absorb impact energy preventing primary hull puncture, and can be easily retrofitted to existing ship hulls. This method and device involves the use of energy absorbing members arranged in a truss-like formation to support the auxiliary hull shell. The auxiliary hull shell can be laminated to weaken interlaminar shear strength and further increase energy absorption during impact and thus prevent auxiliary hull puncture. This method and device also allows for the void spaces created between the primary and auxiliary hull shells to be filled with material which will, distribute the impact forces to the primary hull over a wider primary hull area, serve to support the auxiliary hull shell under hydrostatic forces and provide additional buoyancy forces if the auxiliary hull shell is punctured.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.