A BARGE STRUCTURE ADAPTED TO FORM A FOUNDATION FOR, AS WELL AS A MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING A FACTORY

Abstract: For a seaway transportation and final mounting of a factory a platform (12) is used which is formed as a displacing steel framework having the required strength for supporting the factory. The height (h) of the platform will then not be sufficient to ensure a displacement required for seaway transportation. This is attained by removable bulwark plates (17), which in watertight manner surround a satisfactory space. The bulwark plates are provided with sealable openings (18), which during transportation by a ship permit draining of this space. The framework may be open upwards, and longitudinals therein are then provided with draining passages. A decked platform is provided with openings (19) in its deck (15) permitting the pouring of concrete into the structure when the platform is finally mounted at the working site.

Description: A BARGE STRUCTURE ADAPTED TO FORM A FOUNDATION FOR, AS WELL AS A MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING A FACTORY. Complete factories, or parts thereof, are often built upon barges, by means of which the factory is transported to the country where it is to be used. The barge may be moored along a quay, or perhaps more often be brought into a dredged channel, which " is then filled up. The barge will thus finally serve as a foundation for the factory. During a sea-way transportation two possibilities are open, either the barge is given sufficient size to permit it being towed over the ocean, or a smaller barge is used, which is shipped by means of a specially designed heavy- duty ship, to the neighbourhood of the final'site, where the barge is "launched" and is used for the remaining part of the journey up to the location where the factory is to be used. One problem in this connection is that a steel struc¬ ture having a sufficient displacement to carry the factory will be very expensive. A concrete structure will, on the other hand, be very big and heavy, which will increase the costs of sea-way transportation and will require increased dredging in the channel, with a correspondingly increased refill work. According to the invention it is now proposed that the barge structure includes a framework of steel formed as a displacing platform of sufficient height (h) and strength to serve as a foundation, as well as removable bulwark plates of sufficient height to ensure the necessary dis¬ placement to carry the factory during transportation there¬ of. Sealable draining openings are preferably provided in conjunction to the bulwark structures. The framework may be formed as a decked shell having openings permitting the pouring of concrete into the shell, internal frames and webs thereof serving as reinforcing members in the concrete structure. Alternatively the fra e- ΓRE OMPI work may be formed as * an upwardly open shell, where longi¬ tudinal strengthening members are provided with draining passages. The invention will below be described with reference to the enclosed drawings in which Figure 1 schematically shows a cross section through a portion of a barge according to the invention, and Figure 2 shows a corresponding view of a barge according to a slightly modified embodiment of the inven¬ tion. In Figure 1 reference 10 denotes a component in a fac¬ tory, and 11 is a part of a beam structure enclosing pro¬ cess equipment thereof. The factory is erected upon a barge structure 12 the lower part of which is formed as a dis¬ placing steel framework structure. This has a satisfactory strength to provide a stable platform for the factory, but the height "h" thereof will not be sufficient to ensure a sufficient displacement for sea-way transportation. The intention is that the barge with the factory, or at least a major part thereof, in substantially working condi¬ tion shall be moved by a special heavy-duty ship from a manufacturer, overseas to a place of use. The ship may be a self-propelled unit, or may possibly be a bigger barge adapted to be towed. This ship is preferably of_ the docking type, i.e. it may be ballasted sufficiently to bring its weatherdeck below water level, so the platform barge can be floated in and out, respectively. The lighter steel struc¬ ture offers a noticeable advantage compared with a concrete barge, with respect to the capacity of the ship. The framework includes, in a manner known per se, a deck 13, and within the shell conventional longitudinal strengthening members 14, webs 15 and frames 16. Bulwark plates 17 are fitted around the platform in such a manner that a sidewardly enclosed space is obtained around the components of the factory. The bulwark plates, which preferably are formed from corrugated or flanged plates have a sufficient height to ensure that the neces- OMPI sary transport displacement for the complete structure is obtained. The water level during transportation is in the drawing denoted 20. The bulwark plates are supported by the beam structure 11 and are furthermore stayed in conven¬ tional manner. The aim is that the platform with the factory shall float from the shipyard to the ship, and later on from the ship to the site of errection. The distances are thus short, during which the transportation can be safely cont¬ rolled. The bulwark plates 17 are provided with sealable ope¬ nings 18. Those are open during the journey upon the ship, so the space inside the bulwark plates is continously drai¬ ned. When the barge has reached its destination the bulwark plates may be removed, at least partially, and may possibly be used for covering buildings or storehouses adjacent to the factory. A number of openings 19 are provided in the deck 13 of the barge, so the shell, at the working site, may be filled with concrete, whereby a conventional, permanent support is obtained. The internal strengthening members 14 - 16 will then serve as reinforcements and the high pH-number ■ ****■ 12 a 13 of the concrete will counteract corrosion, also in salt water environment. On occasions, when the final transport from the ship to the working site is short, or will follow a route through calm waters, for instance up a river, the framework may be simplified in the manner shown in Figure 2, i.e. be desig¬ ned as an un-decked shell. In Figure 2 the same reference numerals as in Figure 1 are used, whenever possible. The bottom plating is denoted by 21 and a reinforced bulwark structure is denoted by 22. Within the latter, longitudinal 23 and webs 24 are arranged in the same manner as described above, so the required strength to carry the factory is obtained. The absence of a deck makes it much easer to pour in the concrete during the final operation, and the maπufac- ture of the shell will be simpler and less expensive. The sealable draining openings 18a are here located in the bulwark structure 22, close by the bottom plating. Longi¬ tudinals 23 between the central web 24 and the bulwark structure are provided with drain passages 25, so the bays between the longitudinals will communicate with the -drai¬ ning openings 18a. In both embodiments it is adviseable to have some pum¬ ping equipment for bailing out rain showers and possible leakage water during the final journey. A barge of the kind above described with the favour¬ able from the manufactures point of view, and, as pointed out above, it will facilitate transportion and reduce the need for dredging and refilling at the working site. The mounting of the various components in the factory will furthermore be simpler than at a conventional concrete structure. With respect to the lay-out of the factory it may, on occasions, be adviseable to provide ballast tanks at various positions within the framework in order to ensure a satisfactory trimming position. The steel framework has sufficient strength to support the factory, and the concrete is finally added mostly to prevent corrosion. It will thus not be necessary to fill the barge completely, but the concrete can be poured or sprayed so it covers the steel surfaces only. Concrete is comparatively cheap and favourable with respect to corro¬ sion, but other compounds may be used for the same purpose.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A barge structure adapted to form a foundation for a factory and to permit seway transportation thereof, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it includes " a framework (13-16; 22-24) of steel formed as a displacing platform (12) of sufficient height (h) and strength to serve as a foundation, as well as removable bulwark plates (17) of sufficient height to ensure the necessary displacement to carry the factory during transportation thereof. 2. A barge structure according to claim 1, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that the ' framework (13-16) is formed as a decked shell having openings (19) permitting the pouring of concrete into the shell, internal frames and webs (14-16) thereof serving as reinforcing members in the concrete structure. 3. A barge structure according to claim 2, c a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that the framework (22, 24) is formed as an upwardly open shell, where longitudinal strengthening members (23) are provided with draining pas¬ sages (25) . 4. A barge structure according to either of the pre- ceeding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in sealable draining openings (18) in conjunction to the bulwark structures (17, 22). OMPI sty WIPO

Inventors: PETR ANTONIN, PETR, ANTONIN
Applicants: SWEDYARDS DEV CORP, SWEDYARDS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Application year: 1983
Main classification: B63B35
IPC codes: B63B35, E02D23, E04H5