Method for making cargo vessel sidewall having a seamless interior liner

A method for making a sidewall for a cargo vessel having a seamless interior liner comprising:

• (a) attaching an aluminum exterior skin to an outer side of a plurality of sideposts to form a subassembly having a first end and a second end;
• (b) holding a first end of a rolled-up interior liner material to the first end of said subassembly and unrolling said rolled-up interior liner material toward said second end of said subassembly to locate said interior liner material beyond the second end of said subassembly and making a cut line on said interior liner material near said second end of said subassembly;
• (c) cutting said interior liner material along said cut line to form a second end of said interior liner material;
• (d) rolling said second end of said interior liner material toward said first end of said interior liner material to form a roll of said cut interior liner material;
• (e) applying an adhesive on an inner face of said plurality of sideposts;
• (f) unrolling said roll of said cut interior liner material until the second end of said interior liner material corresponds to the second end of said subassembly and said interior liner material is substantially flat and in contact with said adhesive;
• (g) tensioning said interior liner material with a tensioning apparatus;
• (h) smoothing and flattening said interior liner material to provide said seamless interior sidewall;
• (i) holding said second end of said interior liner material to said second end of said subassembly;
• (j) removing said tensioning apparatus;
• and
• (k) allowing said adhesive to cure.

A method for making a sidewall for a cargo vessel having a seamless interior liner, comprising:

• (a) attaching a plurality of supports each having an exterior face and an interior face on a metallic exterior skin such that the exterior faces of said supports contact said exterior skin;
• (b) applying an adhesive on the interior faces of said supports;
• (c) applying a seamless, puncture-resistant, nonmetallic interior liner material onto said adhesive and said interior faces of said supports;
• (d) tensioning said seamless interior liner material;
• and
• (e) curing said adhesive after tensioning said seamless interior liner material to maintain the tension in said seamless interior liner material and to provide strength and rigidity to said sidewall.