Abstract:
A method, a marine vessel, and a plant process garbage in port locations, especially those zoned exclusively for marine use. Solid waste is collected, processed, and shipped. The method and plant involve a marine vessel. The marine vessel has a deck, preferably with a hopper, for receiving solid waste. Solid waste is then processed by moving to a baler, compactor, containerizing, or packaging equipment on the vessel. The processed (i.e. baled, compacted, containerized, or packaged) solid waste is then transferred from the processing system for loading upon trucks, railcars, or a further marine vessel for shipping. The vessel may provide temporary storage for processed solid waste prior to loading.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     N/A  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     N/A  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The invention relates to marine vessels that are used to process solid waste.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART  
       [0004]     Many coastal areas have industrial working ports that are being utilized less each, year. These working ports normally have the truck access needed to support the volume required to unload solid waste collected each day for shipping to disposal sites in the area. However, municipal ordinances require that industries utilizing ports have a marine related use. Therefore, land-based municipal waste processing plants are prohibited in ports.  
         [0005]     Traditional landfills and municipal waste processing plants are located inland away from populated urban centers. A major component of the cost of processing garbage is the shipping cost of the municipal waste. To reduce shipping costs, trucks and rail are used to reach the inland disposal sites. Decreasing the volume of garbage being shipped can further reduce shipping costs.  
         [0006]     Prior marine vessels for municipal waste use the vessel to transport the municipal waste by sea or to separate or incinerate garbage at sea. In the prior art involving garbage and vessels, the solid waste is removed from the port by a vessel.  
         [0007]     In some cases, the incineration of garbage at sea has been prohibited by law. In other cases, wastes that have been removed from a port on a barge have been denied entry into other ports.  
         [0008]     Current marine-based transfer stations such as the one in New York utilized a pier where solid waste was dropped onto a barge for shipment. Other methods include land based solid waste processing systems that prepare solid waste for shipping by water (i.e. by barge). These systems do not process the solid waste on a vessel.  
         [0009]     A floating recycling and transfer station is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,758 to Saly et al. According to the &#39;758 patent, recyclable garbage is separated from other solid waste. The separated recyclable material and garbage are dropped onto respective barges. The recyclable material is separated from other solid waste material for the reasons related to plastic encapsulation of incinerated solid waste that are described in the parent of Saly &#39;758 (i.e. U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,862). From inventor&#39;s experience, compacted solid waste is more difficult to incinerate than uncompacted solid waste. Therefore, Saly &#39;758 suggests that further processing the separated solid waste would be disadvantageous. For this reason, Saly &#39;758 teaches to merely drop the separated solid waste onto barges or rail cars and not to process it further by methods such as baling, shredding, and compacting to reduce the volume of the solid waste. Another shortcoming of Saly &#39;758 is that it works in conjunction with a non-marine barge loading system that collects garbage from vehicles and then drops the solid waste onto the floating recycling and transfer station for separation; as stated, such non-marine systems are forbidden in most ports that are designated strictly for marine use.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     An object of the invention is to provide a marine vessel for processing solid waste that allows the shipping of solid waste from the port or dock via truck or rail as well as water. The ability to process and ship solid waste on a marine vessel by all shipping methods is important in meeting the current solid waste disposal system needs.  
         [0011]     With the objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, the marine vessel for receiving, processing, and shipping solid waste includes the related systems and methods for achieving this. The marine vessel contains the equipment and process steps to allow solid waste to be received on board, processed for shipment onboard, and then moved onto trucks, rail, or water for shipment.  
         [0012]     In accordance with a further object of the invention, the processor on the marine vessel should process solid waste in whatever manner is required by the final destination (i.e. landfill, incinerator, etc.). More specifically, the processor might be a crusher, a cutter, a baler, containerizing equipment, compacting equipment, packaging equipment, or any combination thereof. Preferably, the processor reduces the volume of the solid waste. While reducing the volume can inhibit incineration, reducing the volume lowers shipping costs and increases the amount of wastes that can be disposed at a final destination. Volume-reducing processors and processing, in contrast to mere separation (such as with recycling), are therefore especially advantageous.  
         [0013]     In accordance with a further object of the invention, the marine vessel includes supporting equipment for moving the processed solid waste to and/or from the processor. If delivering to the processor, the supporting equipment will move unprocessed waste directly from the inbound transport onto the marine vessel, which may include a hopper or other intermediate storage area. By delivering directly to the marine vessel, no land-based intermediate transfer point is necessary. If delivering from the processor, the supporting equipment will move unprocessed solid waste from the processor to outbound transport or to a temporary storage area such as a loading dock. Examples of supporting equipment include a crane, a conveyor, a chute, a lift truck, a drop platform, a screw conveyor, and a front end loader or similar tractor.  
         [0014]     An object of the invention is to provide a substantial new marine related industry to working ports. Working ports usually have good truck access and rail access. The combined ability to receive solid waste into the port via truck, rail, or water for processing, combined with the ability to ship via truck, rail, or water distinguishes the working port sites. The missing link to utilizing all available modes of transportation in and out of the port has been the creation of a marine vessel based processing system for the solid waste. The processing system should be marine based (i.e. not land based) to avoid municipal restrictions against land-based industries being located in designated ports. Other methods of processing solid waste were land based or depended on marine only shipping out of solid waste.  
         [0015]     In accordance with a further object of the invention, the marine vessel combines a marine based processing system for solid waste shipping that is capable of receiving solid waste via truck, rail, or water (i.e. another vessel) and that can ship out solid waste via truck, rail, or water (i.e. another vessel). This invention replaces land based solid waste processing and transfer systems. This invention is also intended to replace marine solid waste transfer systems where solid waste is loaded onto a barge for shipment by water, but not processed on the vessel.  
         [0016]     In the preferred embodiment, the marine vessel is secured to an anchoring location such as a wharf, pier, pilings, or dock. The marine vessel is configured to receive solid waste from trucks, rail, or another vessel. The marine vessel includes supporting equipment needed to process solid waste to prepare it for shipment via truck, rail, or another vessel. The marine vessel can support equipment for moving processed solid waste from the processing equipment to truck, rail, or another vessel for shipment. The construction of the marine vessel must allow for each vessel to be constructed or modified to meet the unique way that solid waste can be delivered to such vessel at each location or time. There are many local systems for collecting solid waste for delivery to a solid waste transfer operation. These are primarily by truck, but may be by rail or another marine vessel.  
         [0017]     The marine vessel must allow for each vessel to be constructed or modified to meet the unique way that solid waste can be processed by such vessel at each location or time. This is primarily baling, but may be by packing into trucks, trailers, containers, or other packaging that is required or requested by the final destination site. By allowing for different configurations, a single marine vessel can meet the requirements of each proposed location.  
         [0018]     The construction of the marine vessel allows for each vessel to be constructed or modified to meet the way that solid waste may be shipped from such vessel at each location or time. This is primarily by truck, but may be by rail or another vessel. The preferred method of shipping is determined by restrictions or availability at both the dock and at the final destination site.  
         [0019]     The invention is important to the solid waste industry and industrial marine industries. First, the invention provides a new marine industry to generate many tons of badly needed activity in working ports. In addition, it provides the solid waste processing industry a marine based processing system that qualifies it for marine industrial use. That marine industrial use classification opens up the many large areas in cities reserved for marine industrial activity for locating a solid waste transfer station. Previous solid waste processing methods did not meet the marine use restrictions of these marine industrial areas. The need to transport the solid waste inland by truck or rail for disposal made the prior marine transfer systems impractical for many disposal companies. This invention allows a marine industrial use and retains the ability to ship out by rail or truck as well as by another vessel.  
         [0020]     In accordance with a further object of the invention, the marine vessel provides a solid waste transfer facility that can be easily moved to another location. This provides temporary solid waste transfer locations that may be moved during the day, the week, or after years. Thus, a vessel at a location convenient during the day can be moved to a more convenient location for night operations. The vessel can be moved during the week between towns or cities. The vessel can be moved for use in disaster relief situations. A port or location can elect a temporary solid waste transfer operation with the vessel moving to a different location following each temporary operation.  
         [0021]     Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.  
         [0022]     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a marine vessel for processing solid waste, a method for collecting, processing, and shipping solid waste, and a plant for processing solid waste, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.  
         [0023]     The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]      FIG. 1  is a partial diagrammatic and partial schematic front side view of a marine vessel according to the invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a top sectional view of the marine vessel taken along line II-II in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a front sectional view of the marine vessel taken along line III-III in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a top sectional view of the marine. vessel taken along line IV-IV in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a top side view of a second embodiment of the marine vessel.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]      FIG. 1  shows the marine vessel  1 . The marine vessel  1  has a hull  2 . The hull  2  has a main deck  4  spanning its top. Beneath the main deck  4 , a lower deck  5  spans the hull  2 . A deckhouse  3  is disposed on the hull  2  to enclose the main deck  4 . The main deck  4  is built above a waterline  6 . The main deck  4  is at a level approximately equal to the pier top  7  so as to provide transportation (i.e. trucks) with access to the main deck  4  from the pier top  7 . The relative height of the main deck  4  compared to the pier top  7  depends on many factors such as the height of the pier top  7  relative to the waterline  6 , the load of the marine vessel  1 , the tide, etc.  
         [0030]      FIG. 2  illustrates a preferred floor plan of the main deck  4  of the marine vessel  1 . Trucks  8  drive across the main deck  4  following inbound lanes  18 . The trucks  8  drive over a hatch  16  that is covered temporarily by a hatch cover  19 . After crossing the hatch  16 , the hatch cover  19  opens. The truck  8  then dumps its solid waste loads through the hatch  16  in the main deck  4  to a hopper  9 . The hopper  9  is disposed on the lower deck  5 . A processor is used on the delivered solid waste loads to prepare the solid waste  26  for outbound transport. In this preferred embodiment, the processing equipment is embodied as two balers  10  disposed on the main deck  4 . The balers  10  form bales  20  from the solid waste  26 . This configuration allows the bales  20  to be loaded directly from the balers  10  onto trailers  81  for shipment off the marine vessel  1 . The trailer  81  is then driven off the marine vessel  1  through an outbound door  12  (i.e. an exit  12 ) over an outbound ramp  14 . A common ramp  13  can be used to both load and offload the marine vessel  1 . However, in a more preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 , an inbound door  11  and outbound door  12 , with respective inbound and outbound ramps  13  and  14  are used to increase possible traffic. Unprocessed solid waste  26  is fed into the baler  10  via a conveyor  15  from the hopper  9  on the lower deck  5 . Use of the lower deck  5  and a hopper  9  allows more unprocessed solid waste  26  to be received than would be possible if the waste was left on the main deck  4  prior to feeding the solid waste into the baler  10 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 1  shows the marine vessel  1 . The deckhouse  3  has an entrance  11  and an exit  12 . Ramps  13 ,  14  connect the marine vessel  1  to the pier top  7 . The trucks  8  filled with solid waste enter the marine vessel  1  by crossing the ramp  13  and entering the entrance  11  of the deckhouse  3 .  
         [0032]     In an alternate embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the marine vessel  1  receives solid waste from an auxiliary hopper  38  outside the marine vessel  1  that is fed by trucks  8 , railcars  29 , or a further marine vessel  27 .  FIG. 5  also shows additional possibilities; the marine vessel  1  receives solid waste from trucks  8 , railcar  29 , or the further vessel  27  using an inbound conveyor  39 , crane  28 , chute  31 , or overhead drop  32  (i.e. a platform). Bales  20 , containers, packages, or other solid waste processed for shipment can be unloaded from the marine vessel  1  for loading onto truck  8 , railcar  29 , or the further marine vessel  27  by utilizing an outbound conveyor  35 , the crane  28 , outbound chute  33 , lift truck  34 , or overhead drop.  
         [0033]     The marine vessel  1  for collecting, processing, and shipping solid waste has a hull  2  and deckhouse  3  configured to support the collection, processing for shipment, and shipment of solid waste. Rooms such as an office  36  and a shop  37  can be built within the deckhouse  3 . The dimensions of each vessel will be determined by the situation that it will be used. For example, the length and width will be determined by the size of the processor to be used at the location. Possible processors include a baler  10 , containerizing equipment, compacting equipment, or packaging equipment. Preferably, these processors reduce the volume of the solid waste. Even amongst the same type of equipment, different manufacturers have different lengths, widths, and heights for different quality, capacity, and speed of the equipment. The processor is selected taking into account such issues as anticipated daily tonnage of solid waste to be processed, anticipated method of receiving solid waste onboard, anticipated method of shipping solid waste, limits on barge size due to water depth, dock length, width limits due to such things as access channel width, bridge clearance. This list is not meant to be all-inclusive.  
         [0034]     Many vessels could be modified or built to accommodate this system and method for processing solid waste for shipment. Preferably, standard size barges are modified and reconfigured to accommodate this system and method for processing solid waste for shipment. This is due to the cost benefits of utilizing standard size barges. The ramps  13  and  14  are modified compared to typical barges to accommodate the weight of loaded trucks  8 . While an embodiment using only one ramp  13  is possible, a preferred embodiment uses two ramps  13  and  14 . An inbound ramp  13  provides access for trucks  8  bringing unprocessed solid waste  26 . An outbound ramp  14  allows trucks  8  loaded with processed solid waste  20  to exit. The ramps  13  and  14  can be configured to compliment land or pier ramps, which are not shown.  
         [0035]      FIG. 4  is a top sectional view revealing the lower deck  5 . The hopper  9  is disposed on the lower deck  5  beneath the hatch  16  in the main deck  4 . Conveyors  15  move the collected, unprocessed solid waste from the hopper  9  to the processor (i.e. the baler  10  on the main deck  4 ). A fuel tank  22  is disposed on each side of the hull  2 . The fuel tanks  22  store fuel for powering the various equipment on the marine vessel  1 . A ballast tank  23  is disposed at each end of the hull  2 . The ballast tanks  23  can be filled and emptied to adjust the draft and altitude of the marine vessel  1 . A water tank  24  stores water for use during the processing of the solid waste. Machinery space  25  is reserved to hold various processing and maintenance equipment. Void spaces  25  are unused spaces that can be built out depending on the application.  
         [0036]     The deck  4  or  5  where the processor is located is reinforced and configured to accommodate such equipment. The processor may be located either on the main deck  4  or lower deck  5 . The processor is positioned to maximize receiving and shipping capacity. The hopper  9  is preferably disposed on the lower deck  5  for solid waste delivered from the main deck  4 . The hopper  9  on the lower deck  5  allows the maximum space for truck maneuvering and processors on the main deck  4  while providing a large space on the lower deck  5  for storing unprocessed solid waste.  
         [0037]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a truck  8  enters the deckhouse  3  by the inbound ramp  13 . An inbound scale  17  weighs the loaded truck  8 .  
         [0038]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , an inbound scale  17  weighs an inbound truck  8  loaded with unprocessed solid waste  26 . The loaded truck then continues in the inbound lane  18  and passes over the hatch  16 , which is covered by a hatch cover  19 . Once the truck  8  has passed the hatch  16 , the hatch cover  19  opens. The unprocessed solid waste  26  is dumped through the hatch  16  into the hopper  9  on the lower deck  5 . By using two decks  4 ,  5 , the main deck  4  is used to maneuver the trucks  8  and the lower deck  5  is used for processing the solid waste. The now-empty truck  8  advances to the unloaded scale  21 . By subtracting the unloaded from the loaded weight of the truck  8 , the weight of the unprocessed solid waste can be calculated. The unloaded truck  8  can pick up processed solid waste, drop its trailer  81  for subsequent loading or simply exit via the outbound door  12  and the outbound ramp  14 .  
         [0039]     Instead of the truck  8  driving through the main deck  4  area as in  FIG. 2 , the truck  8  reverses to an opening or chute to unload the unprocessed solid waste directly to the lower deck  5 . A further alternative embodiment provides that the truck  8  drives onboard by reversing (i.e. backing up) up the ramp  14  to get onboard. The truck  8  continues to reverse directly to the hopper  9  or chute to unload directly to the hopper  5  disposed on the lower deck  5  below.  
         [0040]     Some larger processors such as those for containerizing solid waste may be too long to be located on the main deck  4 . Accordingly, the containerizing equipment  26  is preferably disposed on the lower deck  5 . Solid waste processed on the lower deck  5  may need to be off loaded directly from the lower deck  5  to maximize efficiency of operation. Conveyor  35 , crane  28 , chute  33 , or lift truck  34  are preferred supporting equipment for moving processed solid waste from the lower deck  5  to a truck  8 , railcar  29 , or further vessel  27 . In an embodiment that is not shown, railcars or trucks  8  could operate onboard the lower deck  5  for loading for shipment instead of the main deck  4 .  
         [0041]     Processed solid waste  20  from the processor is moved by supporting equipment such as a hydraulic system, a conveyor  35 , a crane  28 , a chute  33 , a lift truck  34 , and dropped to an outbound transport such as a truck  8 , a railcar  29 , or a marine vessel  27  for delivery (i.e. shipment out).  
         [0042]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the marine vessel  1  is configured to load a truck  8  or a railcar  29 , and have them exit the vessel  1 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the marine vessel  1  loads an outbound transport such as a truck  8 , a railcar  29 , or a further vessel  27  that is located outside the marine vessel  1 .  
         [0043]     The use of already available equipment for receiving, processing, and loading material for shipment is an important capability for this invention. Many final destinations for the processed solid waste have disposal and shipping systems configured to utilize bales  20 , containers, packaging, or other shipping containers that are specifically manufactured for their use. Therefore, the marine vessel  1  is adaptable to process the solid waste into a form that the final destination prefers to use.  
         [0044]     In an embodiment for processing solid waste into containers made specifically for a given rail shipper, the marine vessel  1  has containerizing equipment for moving collected solid waste into that particular type of rail container. In addition, further equipment may be necessary to ready the collected solid waste for shipment, and then load the solid waste onto a railcar.  
         [0045]     In another embodiment, in which rail was not available near the marine vessel  1 , further modifications of the marine vessel  1  are needed to accommodate shipping such as an interim shipping method. The marine vessel  1  loads containers of processed solid waste  20  onto trucks  8  or another vessel  27  for transport to a remotely located rail system. In an additional embodiment, the solid waste is collected, processed, and temporarily stored at a first given location and then the marine vessel  1  is moved to a second location to load directly onto rail. Each of these alternatives would involve a different loading system. The ability of this invention to adapt to each unique operating situation makes it economically viable.  
         [0046]     The length, width, height, and other specifications of the marine vessel may vary. A standard size barge of twenty-seven meters (27 m) wide and ninety-four meters (94 m) long should be large enough to handle most applications. A larger standard barge of thirty meters (30 m) wide by one-hundred twenty-one meters (121 m) long may be practical for larger operations and tonnage processed. The extra room may be needed to accommodate more lines of processors such as balers  10 . For example, if daily capacity is needed of one hundred forty five metric tons per hour (145 mt/h), in addition to two equipment processing lines capable of seventy-two metric tons per hour (72 mt/h) each, an additional equipment line may be needed for redundancy. This allows for repairs and maintenance of a processor while maintaining required production capacity. Extra equipment lines and additional inbound lanes  18  for more trucks  8  to unload simultaneously expand the size needs of the marine vessel  1 . Smaller operations may utilize a smaller marine vessel with smaller processors and less tonnage processing capability. The overall tonnage production needed for a small operation and type of receiving and shipping methods required by the smaller operation will determine the optimum size of the marine vessel. A small operation that receives solid waste from an auxiliary hopper  38  (i.e. outside the marine vessel  1 ) and loads processed solid waste  20  onto a truck  8 , a railcar  29 , or another vessel  27  could be of a size not much larger than needed to accommodate the solid waste processing equipment which may be under 30.4 m in length.  
         [0047]     As stated, the configuration of the marine vessel  1  for collecting, processing for shipment, and shipping of solid waste is flexible, as described in the detailed description above. The following is one possible configuration.  
         [0048]     The marine vessel  1  for collecting, processing for shipment, and shipping of solid waste has a hull  2  with dimensions of 91.4 m×30.4 m; this size is the standard configuration for ocean towing capability. Appropriate modifications needed will be affixing ramps  13 ,  14  capable of supporting 29,030 kg loaded trucks. The main deck  3  should support 29,030 kg trucks  8 . Reinforcements, which are not shown, to the main deck  4  minimize canning (deck deformation) associated with truck traffic on metal flooring. Such decks may have a poured concrete wear deck, which is not shown, to add longevity to the main deck  4  and eliminate the need for renewal of deck plating after several years use.  
         [0049]     Balers  10  are installed approximately in the center front of the main deck  4 . This location is between the truck entrance  11  and exit  12 . The location provides the room needed for the baler  10  and three trailers  81  to be loaded from the baler  10  using hydraulics for automatic loading of the bales  20  onto the three trailers  81 . This configuration allows a tractor  82  to attach to the filled trailers  81  to drive them off the marine vessel  1 , out the exit  12  in front left side of the marine vessel  1 .  
         [0050]     The solid waste is received on this marine vessel  1  by trucks  8  driven through the right front side entrance  11  and ramp  13 . The truck  8  passes the far right center of the main deck  4  in one of three inbound lanes  18 . A hatch cover  19  opens after the truck  8  passes over the hatch cover  19 . The truck  8  deposits solid waste into the open hatch  16 . The truck  8  then exits the marine vessel  1  via the exit  12  and ramp  14  on the left front side of the marine vessel near the wharf. The hatch cover  19  is then closed after the solid waste is deposited through the hatch  16  into the hopper  9  on the lower deck  5 .  
         [0051]     The solid waste is moved from the hopper  9  to the baler  10  via a conveyor  15  that moves the solid waste from the hopper  9  on the lower deck  5  to the baler  10  that is approximately fifteen feet (15′) above the upper deck floor. A hopper capacity for up to one day&#39;s permitted tonnage capacity will ensure no stop in operations due to supply during the day. The solid waste is processed through the baler  10  with bales  20  of solid waste exiting the baler  10  directly to the rear of the trailers  81  parked for loading. The bales  20  of solid waste are hydraulically pushed from the baler  10  into each trailer  81 . There are two balers  10  configured to allow operation by at least one baler  10  even if the other baler  10  is being maintained or repaired. Inbound scales  17  are built in the main deck  5  in the inbound lane  18 , near the entrance  11 . Outbound scales  21  are disposed in the main deck  4  in the inbound lanes  18  after the unloading hatch  16 . The inbound and outbound scales  17  and  21  allow the trucks  8  to be quickly weighed before and after they unload the solid waste. This allows the weight of the solid waste delivered to be determined for billing purposes. The trailers  81  being shipped out can use the outbound scales  21  if necessary. Because most modern balers  10  identify the weight of each bale  20 , weighing the trailers  81  will not be necessary in most cases to determine the weight of the loaded bales  20 .  
         [0052]     A deckhouse  3 , which is a prefabricated steel-framed product of suitable strength to exceed local zoning codes for extreme weather, encloses the main deck  4 . There will be certain parameters set forth by the Classification Society and Flag State for marine vessels, but in respect to the twenty plus (20+) year life cycle the commercial aspects of the building should meet or exceed the regulatory issues of the barge platform without difficulty. The parameters for ventilation will be subject to Classification, Flag State, and local ordinances. Air filtering systems utilizing activated charcoal or other filtering methods are available and may be installed to control odor from the vessel.  
         [0053]     Overhead door heights  21  are configured to accommodate the largest vehicles (particularly, trucks  8 ), and inside ceiling clearance for truck  8  tipping shall exceed 9.1 meters. A maximum height of barge and building of seventeen meters (17 m) should accommodate three meters (3.0 m) of free board and a building height of fourteen meters (14 m). The building height of fourteen meters (14 m) should accommodate trucks tipping, handling bales, overhead ventilation systems, and equipment repairs. The three meters (3 m) of freeboard should accommodate most commercial piers provided the “Ro-Ro” ramps  13 ,  14  (roll-on, roll-off) are of sufficient length. An intermediate smaller barge, which is not shown, may be needed to accommodate truck access in extreme cases of dock heights.