Metro Machine Corporation

Marinex International, Inc.

Richard Salzer

Richard A Goldbach

Frank E McConnell

For fabricating a double-hulled tanker, or a major component of one including at least part of longitudinal midbody, a floating drydock is used which has two independently elevatable-depressible sections. The midbody part is made of individual modules, each of which is fabricated in an upended orientation. The upended modules are successively floated onto a tilting assembly on one drydock section, tilted over and serially added to a growing midbody on the other drydock section. The two drydock sections are pumped out and flooded as the process progresses for shifting the positioning of the growing midbody and modules. Other parts, including a bow and stern are added, to provide a complete vessel.

Vessel hull construction and method

An improved curved-plate, double-hull tanker construction is provided, having reduced or eliminated transverse reinforcing structure in its midbody, except for bulkheads. The hull, though double, can compare in weight to conventional single hulls, despite being entirely made of mild steel plate. It is made of significantly fewer pieces, with a reduction in welding footage. More of the steel is used in the form of plate, rather than more expensive shapes. Improved productivity is possible, resulting from standardization of parts, less scrap, greater use of jigs and fixtures, automated welding, blast-cleaning and painting, so that not so much staging is needed, the work environment can be safer, and the product can be produced at a lower unit labor cost. Preferably, cathodic epoxy painting is used for durability and reduction in problems due to blast cleaning, solvent evaporation and generation of refuse. Extending the double hull structure from the bottom and sides of the hull to the main deck can provide space for fuel oil to be located safely away from the skin of the ship, rather than in possibly vulnerable deep tanks at the stern. The constructional technique is believed to be applicable to vessel hulls in the 70,000 DWT to 300,000 DWT range. The vessel hull midbody module subassemblies may be assembled into modules, hull midbodies and vessels using the method and apparatus disclosed in Cuneo et al., Application No. 07/532,329.

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Sugarland, TX, United States of America

Richard Salzer