Apparatus for storing and transporting a cryogenic fluid on-board a ship

An apparatus for storing and transporting a cryogenic fluid, which apparatus is carried onboard a ship (1), the apparatus comprising a sealed and thermally insulating tank (2, 3, 4, 5, 102, 202) intended for the storage of the cryogenic fluid in a state of liquid-vapor diphasic equilibrium, said tank (2, 3, 4, 5, 102, 202) having a horizontal top wall (13, 113, 213), comprising, in the thickness direction from the outside toward the inside of the tank, at least one thermally insulating barrier (18, 20, 118, 120) and one sealing membrane (21, 121) intended to be in contact with the cryogenic fluid;

• the apparatus comprising at least two sealed pipes (22, 23, 24, 25) passing through the tank in such a way as to define a passage for the removal of the vapor phase of the cryogenic fluid from inside to outside the tank, the two pipes (22, 23, 24, 25, 122, 123, 124, 125, 222, 223) each comprising a collection end opening inside the tank at the level of the sealing membrane (21, 121) of the top wall (13, 113, 213);
• the collecting ends of said two pipes opening to the inside of the tank at the level of two zones of the top wall (13, 113, 213) which are situated at two opposite ends of said top wall (13, 113, 213), each of the pipes (22, 23, 24, 25, 122, 123, 124, 125, 222, 223) being connected to a vapor collector (26, 159, 264) arranged outside the tank (2, 3, 4, 5, 102, 202), the or each vapor collector (26, 159, 264) being connected to a flare stack (7) and/or to a vapor-phase gas utilization circuit via a safety relief valve (42, 160).