BARGE-CARRYING VESSEL

Abstract: A barge-carrying vessel (1) comprises an afterpart (2),a forepart (3), and a beam system (4) connecting said afterpart to said forepart, said beam system having fastening means (14) for barges (B), connectible to said beam system and said fore- and afterparts, such that the outwardly facing shell plating portions of the barges substantially coincide with the adjacent shell plating portions (8) of the vessel. The novel matter of the invention resides in that said beam system (4) incorporates a beam (5) of lattice construction, one end of said beam being supported substantially stationary by supporting means (7) on the afterpart (2), and in that the forepart (3) has beam supporting means (9) adapted to permit relative displacement such that said fore- and afterparts (3, 2) can be moved towards and away from one another. If required, barges (C) can be loaded on top of said beam (5) via ramps (36) and sliding members (34) at the deepest trimmed beam end (at the forepart).

Description: BARG -CARRYI G VESSEL The present invention relates to a barge-carrying vessel in accordande with the preamble of claim 1. By "barge-carrying vessel" in the context of this invention is meant a vessel capable of carrying barges from one place to another in a controlled and protected manner and with good transport economy. The barges are preferably of the type LESJ according to ISO Standard 4175-1979, Series 1 A. The barges are rigidly interconnected or carried by the vessel whose construction is such that the barges are not allowed, or to a minor extent only, to increase the vessel's propulsion resistance. Thus, the barges can be carried by the ship without being in contact with the surrounding sea, or one or more barges can be integrated with the vessel structure in .such a manner that either the bow or the stern, or both, are provided with recesses within which the barges can be displacingly (floatingly) moored in a more or less enclosed state. An advantageous ccnstruction of a barge-carrying ves- sel is disclosed by Scvjet patent specification 747,770 which shows a vessel in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. The beam system comprises a box-section beam extending amidships in the fore-and-aft direc¬ tion, and on each side of the said box-section beam a further, lighter box-section beam mounted at the main deck/the shell plating and movably secured to the transverse bulkheads of the afterpart and the forepart, respectively, facing the center of the vessel. Extending from each side of the amidship box-section beam are a pair of transverse bulkheads which, together with said box-section beam, form six outwardly open compartments in the vessel, each compartment being adapted to receive and hold a displacing barge. However, there has not been built before a barge- carrying vessel incorporating the possibility of con¬ trolling the draught of the barges and adapting the length of the vessel to the number of barges carried. It therefore is a primary object of this invention to provide a vessel in which the draught of each barge can be controlled individually and, thus, the total draught of the vessel. The vessel is intended to carry barges on rivers, lakes and similar still waters where the draught is of decisive importance and the seaworthy- ness of the vessel, i.e. the ability to withstand high seas or strong winds, is of secondary importance. A further object of the invention is to provide a vessel which is capable of enclosing an optional number of barges and whose length can be adapted to the number of barges carried. The barges are intended to form an integrated part of the vessel for good transport economy. Still another object of the invention is to provide a vessel using its own gear for positioning each barge in the vessel and automatically mooring each barge in the vessel. It also is an object of the invention to provide a vessel which, in addition to a number of displacing barges, can carry a number of further supported barges. According to the invention, these objects are achieved by means of a barge-carrying vessel having the special features stated in the characterising clause of claim 1. A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described below for purposes of examplification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a lateral view of a barge-carrying vessel with barges, according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the vessel; Fig. 3 is a schematic top plan view of the vessel while hauling in four barges into the vessel structure, the wind direction being marked by an arrow; Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3, but with the barges moored in the vessel; Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line A-A in Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view along line B-B in Fig. 5. The barge-carrying vessel according to the inven¬ tion which is generally designated 1, comprises an afterpart 2, a forepart 3 separate from said afterpart, and a beam system 4 interconnecting said afterpart and said forepart which are streamlined, as on con- ventional vessels. The beam system comprises a beair. 5 of lattice construction having the cross-sectional shape of an inverted U, the beam flanges (the legs of the U) being directed downwardly toward the water surface 6. The width of the beam substantially corre- sponds to the width of the forepart and the afterpart, and the lowermost beam portions lie substantially on a level with the main deck of these parts. In this manner, a free space is formed between the water, the beam 5 and the fore- and afterparts 2, 3. The beam 5 is fixedly clamped in supporting means 7 mounted on the main deck of the afterpart 2 at the shell plating 8 and is similarly clamped in supporting means 9 on the forepart 3. A winch and wire system and sliding surfaces (not shown) on the supporting means 9 are provided for longitudinal sliding movement of the beam when said supporting means 9 have released the beam. The supporting means are distributed about the metacentre line of the forepart and have a guiding and supporting function on the aft side of the fore- part 3. In this manner, the forepart 3 can be moved toward or away from the afterpart and secured stepwise to the beam, the supporting means 9 being moved into engagement with welded supporting rings 10 in the lower flange portions of the beam; see Fig. 1. The distance be¬ tween two longitudinally spaced apart supporting rings corresponds approximately to the width of a barge B. This means that the length of the vessel can be adapted to the number of barges, the barges being arranged adjacent to another and to the fore- and afterparts. When no barges are carried, the forepart is coupled with the afterpart. The afterpart 2 and the forepart 3 accommodate ballast tanks and the associated pumps. Furthermore, the afterpart comprises ir.t.al. the propulsion plant and propellers 11 with pivoting shafts, and a wheelhouse 12 that can be raised cr lowered and has a folding mast 13 to allow the vessel to pass underneath low bridges. Furthermore, the forepart may be equipped with laterally directed jet stream facilities connected to the ballast system (indicated by an arrow in Figs. 3 and 4) . From the upper part of the beam 5, fastening means 14 depend from the beam flanges, said fastening means being arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the midshipline of the vessel. Furthermore, the fastening means are arranged in groups on the beam, such that their positions essentially correspond to the corners of a positioned barge B. As will appear from Figs. 1-4, the barges are intended to be moored to the fasten¬ ing means 14 adjacent to another and adjacent to the after- and foreparts 2, 3 in the space underneath the beam 5. In the embodiment illustrated, the barges are moored alongside one another, leaving a transverse gap of abcut 200 mm, and the length of the barges corresponds to the width of the after- and foreparts and, thus, essentially also to the width of the beam, whereby the shell plating of the barges will be sub¬ stantially in alignment with the shell plating of the vessel so that the barges may be said to constitute an integrated part of the ship, whereby the propulsion resistance is reduced and good economy of operation is achieved. The draughts of the barges can be con- trolled individually be means of the fastening means 14 in that the barges can be lifted or lowered in relation to the beam 5. Reference is now made to Figs. 5 and 6 which illustrate in detail a preferred embodiment of the fastening means 14. Each fastening means comprises a hydraulic cylinder 30, one end of which is attached to the beam 5, while the other end of the cylinder carries a fastening device 15. The fastening device is in the form of a vertical column 16 formed at its lower end with a portion having a conical recess and a horizontal throughhole 17. A bracket 18 is secured to the fastening device 15 and carries a horizontally arranged hydraulic cylinder 19 connected to a horizon- tally displaceable plunger 20 adapted to be inserted through the hole 17. Finally, the fastening means comprises a wire 21 connected to • a hydraulic winch which is mounted on the beam 5. The free end of the wire 21 is secured to one of the mooring devices 24 of the barges B. The wire has a fitting 23 which pre¬ vents damage to the wire 21 when the plunger 20 is pushed in. Two wires 21 are diagonally attached to two of the mooring devices of the barge 2 to facilitate bringing the barge in position underneath the beam 5. Each barge B has four mooring devices 24, each in the form of an essentially conical body having a horizontal throughhole 25. In the embodiment illu¬ strated, the mooring devices 24 are mounted at the four corners of the barge in such a manner that, when the barge has been hauled into position underneath the beam 5 by means of the wires 21 and the winches 22 of the associated group of fastening means 14, the mooring devices 24 of the barge are in alignment with the respective fastening means 14. In this manner, the fastening devices 15 can be lowered such by means of the hydraulic cylinders of the fastening means 14 that they will enclose the mooring devices 24, as indicated by dash-dot lines in Fig. 5, and the holes 17, 25 of the mooring device and the fastening device are aligned with one another and with the plunger 20 which, by operation of the hydraulic cylinder 19, can then be inserted into the holes 17, 25 for mooring the barge to the fastening means 14 and to the beam 5, i.e. to the vessel 1. Besides the fastening means 14, the beam 5 may be provided with a mobile hatch crane (not shown) and a winch assembly (not shown) for hauling up barges above the beam, as will be described below. Furthermore, • the beam accommodates gangways, pipes and cables ' for the gear on the forepart. The gear of the vessel, such as winches, lifting devices, fastening means, is hydraulically operated, preferably from a central location, such as the wheelhouse 12. Loading of the barge-carrying vessel is carried out as follows; se especially Figs. 3 and 4. The vessel 1 is ballasted to a suitable draught by means of ballast tanks and pumps in the fore- and afterparts 2 and 3 and is anchored and/or maintained in position by means of the pivotal propellers 11, anchors and, where applicable, by the jet stream unit of the forepart. The length of the vessel is adapted to the number of barges, in accordance with the above description. From a workboat 26, each wire 21 is fastened to the respective mooring device 24 of the associated barge B. The barges are stationed to the leeward of the vessel and are hauled by the wires and the cables 22 on the beam 5 to their respective positions under- neath the beam between the fore- and afterparts 2 and 3. When all barges are in position underneath the beam, the vessel is ballasted to a draught geater than that of the barge having the greatest draught. If any barge has a draught less than that of the vessel 1 (usually an empty barge), the hydraulic cylinders of the fastening means 14 can press down the empty barge to such an extent that the empty barge and the vessel will have the same draught. The fastening means 14 are secured to the beam 5 at an optional level by means of a locking mechanism comprising a straight rack 31 attached to the column 16 and a cooperating part 32 movably secured to the beam 5. To moor the barges to the fastening means 14, the plungers 20 are displaced when the fastening devices 15 have assumed their pcsitions enclosing the mocring devices 24, as described above with refe¬ rence to Figs. 5 and 6. In this manner, the barges are moored to the beam and thus to the vessel. After the total draught and the trim of the vessel have been adjusted, the vessel is ready for transporting the barges to their destination. To shorten the loading time, the vessel can depart at reduced speed as soon as the fastening means 14 are secured to the barges 9, even though the vessel 1 and the barges B do not have the same draught. Final adjustment of the draught can then take place when the vessel is under way. Instea of hauling each barge separately underneath the beam, the barges can be interconnected and anchored, whereupon the vessel is moved sideways over the barges. To release the barges at the destination, the loading procedure described above is reversed. It is also possible to carry barges B (preferably identical with the barges B) or containers on top of the beam. The barges C are indicated by dash-dot lines in Fig. 1. For hauling the barges out of the water and up on the beam 5, the vessel is trimmed by the forepart 3 to as deep a level as possible. Special movable ramps 36 are placed in position (shown by dash-dot lines in Fig. 1) by means of a winch and wire arrangement (not shown). First, however, the forepart 3 must be moved aft a distance corresponding to the length of a barge (maximally five barges B between parts 2 and 3). Wires 33 connected to the winch (not shown) on the afterpart 2 are secured in sliding members 34 cooperating with lower connecting means 35 on the barge C; see Figs. 5 and 6. The connect¬ ing means 35 preferably is of column section for coopera¬ tion and vertical alignment with the mooring device 24. Furthermore, the sliding member- 34 has an upper part connectible to the connecting means 35, a pivot pin mounted in said upper part, and a lower part mounted about said pivot pin. The lower surface of the lower part has a groove encompassing a steel rail 37 with sliding surfaces. A pair of rails 37 are mounted on the beam 5 as well as on the ramps 36 in the longi¬ tudinal direction of the beam and above the fastening means 14; cf. Fig. 5. In this manner, the barge C can be floated into the sliding members 34 which are below the water surface 6. When the sliding member 34 engages the connecting means 35, the barge C can be hauled up on the beam via the ramps 36 at the deep end of the beam which, in the embodiment illustrated, is located at the forepart 3. After that, further barges can be hauled up on the beam in the same manner. The invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, but can be further modified within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A barge-carrying vessel (lj comprising an afterpart (2), a forepart (3), and a beam system (4) connecting said afterpart to said forepart, said beam system having fastening means (14) for barges (B) connectible to said beam system and between said fore- and afterparts, such that the outwardly facing shell plating portions of the barges substantially coincide with the adjacent shell plating portions (8) of the vessel, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that said beam system (4) incorporates a beam (5) of lattice con¬ struction, one end of said beam being supported sub¬ stantially stationary by supporting means (7) on the afterpart (2), and that the forepart (3) has beam supporting means (9) adapted to permit relative dis- placement such that said fore- and afterparts (3, 2) can be moved towards and away from one another. 2. A barge-carrying vessel as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that each fastening means (14) comprises a lifting device, a fastening device (15), and a wire (21) adapted to be attached to one of preferably four mooring devices (24) of a barge (B) for hauling the barge into position under¬ neath the beam (5), said mooring device being adapted to engage with the mooring means (24) of the barge, and said lifting device being arranged, together with the remaining fastening means (14) associated with the barge, for restricted and individual movement of said barge through a desired distance relative to said beam. 3. A barge-carrying vessel as claimed in claim l or 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that both the forepart (3) and the afterpart (2) are equipped with ballast tanks for trimming and adjusting the draught of the vessel, said ballast tanks being adapted, in cooperation with said fastening means (14), to control the draught of said vessel (1) and said barges (B). 4. A barge-carrying vessel as claimed in claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that each wire (21) is connected to an associated winch (22) mounted on the beam (5); that the mooring means (24) of the barge (B) comprises a substantially conical body with a horizontal throughhole (25); that each fastening device (15) is in the form of a vertical column (16), the lower end of which has a portion provided with a horizon¬ tal throughhole (17) and cooperating with said mooring device (24), and a horizontally displaceable plunger (20) adapted to be inserted in the holes (17 and 25, respectively) of said fastening device (15) and said mooring device (24) for interconnection thereof; and that the lifting device of saic fastening means (14) is a hydraulic cylinder (3G) integral with said fastening device (15 ) . 5. A barge-carrying vessel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that said fastening means ( 14 ) are arranged in groups on the beam (5), such that their positions substantially correspond to the corners of a positioned barge (B) . 6. A barge-carrying vessel as claimed in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the beam (5) is of inverted U shape and provided at one end with a winch assembly for hauling up barges (C) and placing them on top of said beam, after the forepart (3) oppo- site to said winch assembly has been trimmed to a suitable level. 7. A barge-carrying vessel as claimed in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that said beam (5 ) is of inverted U shape and adapted, if required, to be immersed with one end below the water surface (6) by means of the ballast system of the forepart (3) so that floating cargos, preferably in the form of barges (C), can be carried on top of said beam (5).

Inventors: MELLBERG ERIK, MELLBERG, ERIK
Applicants: SPANSET MARINE AB
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B63B35
IPC codes: B63B25