Patent ID: 8690622

Claim:
A small size floating vessel having a dual fuel system, optimized cargo capacity, and options for operating selectively between diesel fuel and natural gas for maximizing economy of vessel operation and reducing vessel emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulates, wherein the small size floating vessel comprises: a. a hull having an overall length ranging from sixty meters to one hundred seventy meters and a draft of up to ten meters; b. a deck disposed over the hull; c. a superstructure disposed over the deck for providing a navigation system and crew quarters; d. a bunkering station disposed above or below the deck for bunkering natural gas and diesel fuel; e. at least one natural gas tank connected to the bunkering station for containing the natural gas, wherein the at least one natural gas tank is disposed beneath the deck and under the superstructure, beneath the deck, or in the superstructure, and wherein a volume of the at least one natural gas tank ranges from one hundred cubic meters to twelve hundred cubic meters; f. a plurality of diesel fuel storage tanks for containing portions of the diesel fuel, wherein each diesel fuel storage tank is mounted below the deck and connected to the bunkering station; g. a plurality of diesel fuel day tanks for containing portions of the diesel fuel, wherein each diesel fuel day tank is mounted above the deck and connected to the plurality of diesel fuel storage tanks, and wherein a volume of the plurality of diesel fuel day tanks and the plurality of diesel fuel storage tanks ranges from one hundred cubic meters to two thousand cubic meters; and h. a propulsion system connected to the at least one natural gas tank, the plurality of diesel fuel day tanks, and the navigation system, wherein the propulsion system is adapted to selectively switch between the at least one natural gas tank and the plurality of diesel fuel day tanks, and wherein the propulsion system comprises: (i) at least one dual fuel engine disposed on the deck, thereby maximizing cargo capacity within the hull, wherein the at least one dual fuel engine is configured to selectively operate on the natural gas or the diesel fuel; (ii) at least one electrical power supply disposed on the deck and connected to the at least one duel fuel engine; (iii) power transmission equipment connected to each electrical power supply; and (iv) at least one azimuthing thruster extending through the hull, wherein the at least one azimuthing thruster is powered by the power transmission equipment.