Imodco, Inc.

Peter John Burbage

Robert Pucnik

A barge ( ) that stores liquid hydrocarbon (oil) from a producing facility ( ) and offloads it perhaps once a month to a shuttle taker ( ), is constructed for unmanned operation except during the once-per-month unloading. The barge has a permanent nonadjustable ballast ( ) and has a solar powered system for communication with a central center for normal operation and emergency shutdown. The barge avoids a &ldquo;hotel system&rdquo; for a permanent crew (up to 50 people) by avoiding seawater ballast tanks, ballast pumps and related systems. The only person-operated equipment is an engine-generator set ( ) and pumps ( ), to be operated only during offloading for perhaps 3 days every month. The barge is unpowered except by solar energy or batteries, and is left unmanned except during offloading, so only temporary crew quarters are provided. The barge has a tank assembly ( ) with rows of tanks connected in series so oil can be loaded and unloaded from the frontmost tank in each row. The barge is ballasted so the bottom walls ( ) of the tanks extend at a slight downward-forward tilt so the last amount of stored oil can flow downhill to the frontmost tank for offloading onto the shuttle tanker.

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Rue hector Otto, Monaco

Peter John Burbage