Transport ship construction and method of loading floating cargo into a

Abstract

A transport ship for transporting floatable cargo comprises a hull having a ballast system with a plurality of ballast tanks and with at least one cargo space which is capable of being flooded. The cargo space is closed by at least one sea door. The ballast system is capable of flooding the cargo space and adjusting the ballast of the hull in order to bring the water level of the cargo space level with the surrounding sea so that the sea doors may be opened and the floatable cargo may be floated directly into the cargo space. With the method of the invention, after the vessel is ballasted and the cargo space flooded in order to adjust the level of the cargo space water to the surrounding water level the sea doors are opened and the cargo floated into the space and aligned in stowage position. The water level is then adjusted in order to either lower the cargo to position it in a secured position in which further elements are anchored to the individual cargo elements or containers; or the level in the cargo space is raised even higher in order to position the cargo into an upper tier stowage position. In the upper tier stowage position hanging devices are provided for securing the cargo and/or holding it in the upper tier position. A plurality of tiers may be loaded in this manner by successively loading the vessel from the uppermost tier downwardly. Intermediate tiers are supported preferably by holding elements which are moved outwardly from the sides of the cargo space. These may comprise extendable brackets which are carried in the bulkhead walls running along the sides of the cargo space. After each whole tier length of cargo is pushed into the cargo space the sea water is adjusted to locate the cargo in a stowage position and then the cargo is secured in that position. Thereafter the level of the water in the cargo space is again adjusted and if more than one tier is to be loaded it is adjusted downwardly to float the next level or cargo in below the upper tier level. Each tier level of a cargo space is floated in along the complete length or selected parts of that cargo space at a time, and the individual cargo elements are secured in position before the adjustment of the ballasting in the cargo space is effected.