Patent ID: 7308862

Claim:
A flexible fluid containment vessel for the transportation and/or containment of cargo comprising a fluid or fluidisable material, said vessel comprising: an elongated flexible tubular structure comprised of fabric having a first side and a second side; said tubular structure being impervious and having a front end and a rear end; means for sealing said front end and said rear end; means for filling and emptying said vessel of cargo; and means for rendering said tubular structure buoyant comprising forming said fabric having at least one thermoplastic or thermoset coating that renders the fabric buoyant, wherein a first thermoplastic or thermoset coating is on said first side of the fabric and a second thermoplastic or thermoset coating is on said second side of the fabric with said first thermoplastic or thermoset coating being different from said second thermoplastic or thermoset coating with said coatings being taken from the group consisting essentially of polyurethanes, polyester, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, polyolefins, synthetic and natural rubbers, polyureas, silicone polymers, acrylic polymers or foam derivatives thereof or other suitable thermoplastic or thermoset material.