United States Patent [191v [111 3,804,050

Iarossi [451 Apr. 16, 1974

[54] PERMANENT BALLAST ARRANGEMENT 3,534,668 10/1970 Scheincha ............................. .. 94/12

2,683,674 7/1954 l-latcher et a1... ............... .. 52/515
FOR EXTERNALLY INSULATED TANKERS 3,557,735 l/1971 Dreyfus et al. .. ............. .. 114/124
[75] Inventor: Frank J. larossi, Middletown, NJ. 2,324,131 7/1943 Boylan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 114/85

1,292,466 l/l919 Hills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 114/65 R

[73] Assignee: Esso Research and Engineering 1,590,649 6/1926 Schack ................................ .. 114/85
Company, Linden, NJ.
[22] Filed: Oct. 21, 1971 Primary Examiner—George E. A. Halvosa
Assistant Examiner-—Edward Kazenske
[21] Appl. No.: 191,406 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-F. Donald Paris

[52] US. Cl ................. .. 114/74 A, 114/121, 52/513

[51] Int. Cl ........................................... .. B63b 25/12
[ 5 7] ABSTRACT
[58] Field of Search .......... .. 114/74 R, 74 A, 72, 73, A permanent ballast arrangement for an externally in
114/65 R, 65 A, 121, 122, 77, .5 T, 75, 76, sulated tanker wherein the ballast comprises a solid
85, 124; 9/6, 2.5; 52/487, 510, 513 X, 509, material of high speci?c weight such as concrete, dis
515, 379; 94/18, 12 tributed throughout the midbody of the vessel. The
concrete ballast may comprise preformed slabs‘ having
[56] References Cited the proper size and shape, and disposed externally
UNITED STATES PATENTS across the main deck of the vessel, as well as internally
3,283,734 11/1966 Gorman .......................... .. 114/74A above the bottom structure of the vessel. A key
3,064,612 1 1 / 1962 Gardner et al..... 1 14/74 A keyway construction is employed to secure the slabs in
917,859 4/1909 Fusch ............... .. ll4/65 R place, ,
3,629,986 12/1971 Klittich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 94/18 '

2,273,898 2/1942 Short .......................... 52/379 12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures

26; f6 / w _ _
~71 1” 3 .

___,

_1.

W’ - Z4 A? 4/

it ' i
I, l 2%
a / /
I l I
1 .
lllllllllll llllllllll
PATENTEDAPR 16 1914 $804,050’ -'
SHEET 2 BF 2

96 9d fX’ANA’JJAFOS
' /
INVENTOR

TF1 El BY

? W
‘

ATTQRNEY M 7'
 3,804,050
1 2
PERMANENT BALLAST ARRANGEMENT FOR and illustrating the overall arrangement of the external
EXTERNALLY INSULATED TANKERS permanent ballast; ‘
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially
along the line 2—2 of FIG. 1 illustrating the external
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 5 and internal permanent ballast arrangement with the
Previously, there has been disclosed in the U. S. Pat. protective outer coating removed; 7
No. 3,283,734 of Paul T. Gorman, assigned to as the FIG. 3 is a cross~sectional view taken substantially
assignee of the present invention, an externally insu along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 illustrating in detail the
lated tanker for transporting lique?ed cargoes at tem construction and arrangment of the external perma
peratures well below ambient. In the case of externally nent ballast;
insulated tankers, as compared to conventional tankers FIG. 4 is an- exploded perspective view of a pre- .
wherein the cargo tanks are used alternatively as ballast formed concrete ballast slab and the deck key for hold
tanks, the ballasting arrangement necessarily cannot be ing the preformed slab in place on the ‘deck of the ves
the same as employed in conventional practice, since sel; .
externally insulated tankers do not employ cargo tanks. FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken sub
Therefore, it is necessary to provide a suitable ballast stantially along the line 5-—5 of FIG. 3 illustrating de
arrangement for externally insulated tankers that will tails of the arrangement of the external preformed bal
provide the vessel with the desired degree of stability last slabs; and
in its unloaded condition. Conventionally, bulk oil car FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3
riers, such as disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,064,612, hav 20 showing an alternate construction and arrangement for
ing a plurality of cargo tanks employ ?xed concrete the external preformed concrete ballast slabs.
ballast internally on the bottom of the inner hull. As DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
disclosed in the latter patent, the ?uid concrete ballast EMBODIMENTS
comprises a single continuous layer of concrete.
25 Having referencerto the drawings wherein like parts
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION are designated by the same reference numeral through
The present invention provides a novel ballast ar out the several views, the present invention is illus
rangement for an externally insulated tanker wherein trated in FIG. 1 as embodied in- an externally insulated
preferably the ballast isprovided longitudinally both tanker having a nickel steel plate hull at its midbody of
externally and internally throughout the cargo midbody 30 the type disclosed in the aforementioned Gorman US.
in order to limit any bending and shear stresses in the Pat. No. 3,283,734 and to which reference is made for
hull structure. According to a preferred form of the a more complete and detailed explanation thereof. As
present invention the ballast comprises a solid material shown the tanker generally includes a hull 10, a for
of high speci?c weight, for example, heavy weight con ward hull portion or bow I2 and an after hull portion
crete containing a heavy aggregate such as barite, limo 35 or stern 14. The bow and stem are fabricated conven
nite, hematite, magnetite, or steel punchings and shot, tionally from mild steel plate and mild steel strengthen
which is distributed throughout the cargo midbody of ing members. Typically, the tanker also includes a car
the vessel. In its preferred embodiment the concrete go-carrying midbody l6 operably disposed between the
ballast comprises preformed slabs of appropriate size bow and stem. Preferably, the midbody is fabricated
and shape. These slabs are distributed across the main from a metal plate possessing physical and mechanical
deck externally of the insulation, or, as disclosed in an properties compatible with the particular cargo to be
alternate embodiment, within the insulation. Addi carried, which, in this case, would be lique?ed natural
tional preformed slabs are disposed internally of the gas and the like. A typical material might comprise a
vessel above the bottom structure. The slabs on the suitable nickel steel containing substantially about 9
45 percent nickel. A central longitudinal bulkhead 18 (see
deck are secured in place by means of complementary
keyways and keys provided in the slabs and secured to FIG. 2) is provided to divide the vessel longitudinally
the deck, respectively. into individual cargo holds. Although not shown, there
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present in also may be provided transverse bulkheads throughout
vention to provide a novel permanent ballast arrange the midbody to further divide the port and starboard
ment.
cargo holds 20 into cargo-carrying portions. The mid
A further object of this invention is to provide an ex-' body 16 completely is enveloped or clad externally
ternally insulated tanker with a novel permanent ballast with suitable thermal insulation 22. Copending US.
arrangement. '
Pat. application Ser. No. 144,422 (RM-613), entitled
Having in mind the above and other objects and ad 55 “Grid System for External Insulation,” assigned to the
vantages that will be apparent from an understanding same assignee as the present invention, discloses vari
of this disclosure, the present invention comprises the ous details for securement of the insulation to the ves
combinations and arrangements as illustrated in the sel’s hull. Typically the insulation 22 is provided with
presently preferred embodiments of the invention, an outer protective coating 24 in order to prevent dam
which is hereinafter set forth in such detail as to enable 60 age to or deterioration of the insulation 22.
those skilled in the art readily to understand the func As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided an
tion, operation, construction and advantages of it when upper permanent ballast arrangement, generally desig
read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. nated 26, disposed above the deck of the vessel and a
lower permanent ballast arrangement 30 located above
the bottom hull structure. To limit bending and shear
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 65
stresses from occurring in a hull structure of acceptable
FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of an externally design level, an upper permanent ballast is provided
insulated tanker incorporating the present invention longitudinally for the full extent of the'cargo midbody
 3,804,050
3 4
16. The upper permanent ballast 26 comprises a plural spaced relation to the top of each slab. Although not
ity of preformed concrete slabs or blocks 28 distributed shown, when the slab keyways 38 mate with corre
across the main deck external of the insulation 22.
sponding ones of the deck keys 36 a suitable sealant
These slabs 28 may or may not extend continuously
such as silicone can be provided between them for pur
transverse of the deck depending on the particular ves
poses of preventing seawater or water vapor seepage
sel design. The lower permanent ballast 30 also com
prises a plurality of similar preformed concrete slabs 28 into the keyway. As shown in FIG. 5, within each of the
disposed internally of the vessel on ?ats above the bot concrete slabs there is provided with an inner rein
tom hull structure. The slabs 28 are made from a solid
forcement layer 42 comprising reinforcement bars lo
material of high speci?c weight. A suitable material O cated between the keyway and the periphery of the
comprises a heavy weight concrete (eg 250 lbs/cu. slab. In addition to strengthening each slab, it provides
ft.) employing a heavy aggregate such as barite, limo means as shown by schematically represented lifting
nite, hematite, magnetite, or steel punchings and shot. pads 44 to facilitate manipulation of the slabs and a
By preforming the ballast into concrete slabs of the suitable connection for tie-down bolts, base plates for
support and the like.- '
proper size and shape‘, installation and distribution
throughout the vessel during construction is facilitated. FIG. 6 describes an alternate arrangement of the
Depending on the vessel stability required, the speci?c upper ballast blocks 28. In this embodiment the perma
weight of each preformed slab may be varied by alter nent ballast comprises preformed slabs 28 located be
ing the aggregate used. The extent of longitudinal dis neath the insulation, or, in other words, disposed di
tribution of the slabs will depend upon the distribution 20 rectly on the deck of the vessel. The deck keys 36 ex
of bending and shear loads within the hull girder and tend between the top and bottom of the slabs 28. The
vertical placement of these slabs should be such so as advantage obtained by this'arrangement is reduction
not to restrict the vessel’s stability. The transverse dis of the shear forces in the foam insulation at the inter
position of the slabs, as shown, is symmetrical bout the face with the steel hull and with the concrete ballast
blocks. . a
vessel’s centerline. In the embodiment disclosed in 25
FIGS. 1 through 5, wherein the outer protective cover It will be appreciated from the foregoing description
ing 24 is disposed between the preformed upper slabs that there has been provided a novel permanent ballast
28 and the insulation 22, it is desirable to employ a pro arrangement for an externally insulated cryogenic
tective coating 32 (see FIG. 3 disposed) externally of tanker. It should be understood that the speci?c con
the concrete ballast slabs 28. The coating 32 may com struction and arrangement herein illustrated and de
prise an epoxy that is suitable to protect the concrete scribed is intended to be representative of a preferred
from the salt environment. An alternate arrangement embodiment only and that certain changes may be
would be to omit the protective epoxy coating 32 and made therein without departing from the clear teach
to place the upper slabs 28 directly contiguous with the ings of the present invention. Accordingly, reference ‘
external insulation 22 such that the outer protective 35 should be made to the following appended claims in
covering 24 would be extended over the ballast slabs determining the full scope of the invention.
instead of as shown. To accommodate contraction of Having thus set forth the nature of the invention,
the hull there are provided longitudinal and transverse what is claimed herein is:
expansion joints 34 between adjacent slabs. These 1-. A tanker for the transportation of a liquid cargo at
joints may comprise a material such as urethane foam 40 atmospheric pressure and cryogenic temperatures
or, other cellular insulation. The internal or lower con comprising in combination:
crete slabs 28 disposed within the cargo hold also may a. a deck;
be coated with a suitable material such as epoxy in b. a hull having forward, after and intermediate car
order to protect them from deleterious effects resulting go-carrying portions, wherein said forward and
from contact with the cargo. The internal slabs are se after portions are fabricated from mild steel plate
cured in place to allow for differential contraction of and said intermediate cargo-carrying portion is fab
the concrete and the supporting structure. A suitable ricated from plate material having physical and me
means for securing the internal slabs in place might chanical properties at extremely low temperatures
comprise stainless steel hold down bolts. The internal substantially characteristic of 9 percent nickel
slabs are disposed and constructed so as to allow the 50 steel;
cryogenic cargo contained in the hold to ?ow com c. thermal insulation means disposed externally of
pletely around them which makes for maximum use of said tanker in the area of said intermediate cargo
the cargo holds for cargo~carrying purposes while still carrying portion; and
providing the necessary ballast. d. permanent ballast means comprising a ?rst plural
FIG. 3 illustrates details of a preferred construction 55 ity of preformed concrete slabs for external ballast
and arrangement for the external ballast slabs 28. The located above said deck and a second plurality ‘of
slabs are ?tted over steel keys 36 having a cross-like preformed concrete slabs for internal ballast lo
con?guration and secured to the deck by means of cated within said intermediate cargo-carrying por
welding. Each of the slabs 28 is provided with a central tion at the bottom thereof, said internal ballast
ly-disposed keyway 38, also having a con?guration being secured in place to allow for differential con
complemental to that of the deck keys 36. Each key traction of said internal ballast and its supporting
way 38 preferably is made from a material such as 9 structure, said permanent ballast means being dis
percent nickel steel and is surrounded on all sides (in tributed substantially throughout said intermediate
cluding the top) by a suitable rigid insulation material cargo-carrying portion, and each of said ?rst and
65
40 such as balsa or high density polyurethane foam. second plurality of concrete slabs including a cen
The keyways extended from the bottom of each slab for trally disposed keyway adapted for receiving a cor
a predetermined distance upward, terminating in responding key secured to said deck.
 3,804,050
5 6
2. A tanker according to claim 1 wherein each of said from occurring in said hull.
keyways is surrounded by a rigid insulation. 5. A tanker according to claim 4 wherein said perma
3. A tanker according to claim 1 wherein each of said nent ballast means are disposed symmetrically about
concrete slabs includes reinforcing means disposed be the center line of said tanker.v
tween said keyways and the periphery of said slabs. 6. A tanker according to claim 4 wherein said mate
4. A tanker for the transportation of a liquid cargo at rial comprises a heavy weight concrete.
atmospheric pressure and cryogenic temperatures 7. A tanker according to claim 4 wherein said exter
comprising in combination: nal permanent ballast means is disposed above said
a. a deck; ' thermal insulation means.
b. a hull having forward, after and intermediate car 8. A tanker according to claim 4 wherein said perma
go~carrying portions wherein said forward and nent ballast means extends transversely and longitudi
after portions are fabricated from mild steel plate nally to the extremities of the deck in the area of said
and said intermediate cargo-carrying portion is fab intermediate cargo-carrying portion. .
ricated from plate material having physical and me 9. A tanker according to claim 4 wherein a ?rst pro
chanical properties at extremely low temperatures 5
tective cover is disposed between said external perma
substantially characteristic of 9 percent nickel
nent ballast means and said thermal insulation means,
steel; and a second protective cover is disposed above said
c. thermal insulation means disposed externally of
said tanker in the area of said intermediate cargo external permanent ballast means.
carrying portion; and ' 10. A tanker according to claim 4 wherein said per
d. permanent ballast means including external ballast manent ballast means is disposed contiguous with said
located above said deck and internal ballast lo thermal insulation means and is provided with an outer
cated within said intermediate cargo-carrying por protective covering disposed over said permanent bal
tion at the bottom thereof, said internal ballast last means.
being secured in place to allow for differential con 25 11. A tanker according to claim 4 wherein said per
traction of said internal ballast and its supporting manent ballast means comprises a plurality of pre
structure, said permanent ballast means comprising formed concrete slabs.
a solid material of high speci?c weight distributed 12. A tanker according to claim 11 wherein longitu
substantially throughout said intermediate cargo dinal and transverse expansion means arev provided be
carrying portion, and said external and internal tween adjacent ones of said slabs to accommodate any
permanent ballast extending longitudinally of said contraction of said hull.
tanker to limit excessive bending and shear stresses * * * * ti‘

35

45

50

55

60

65