초록 ▼

An apparatus and method for ballasting and de-ballasting a vessel having a hull with several watertight ballast compartments. In a first embodiment, a pressure tank is isolatably and fluidly coupled to a common sea chest, to the atmosphere, to ballast compartments via a distribution manifold, and to

An apparatus and method for ballasting and de-ballasting a vessel having a hull with several watertight ballast compartments. In a first embodiment, a pressure tank is isolatably and fluidly coupled to a common sea chest, to the atmosphere, to ballast compartments via a distribution manifold, and to a source of compressed gas. The pressure tank is first vented and filled with water from the sea chest, then isolated. The filled tank is then coupled to a ballast tank and the source of compressed gas, which displaces water from the tank to the ballast compartment. In other embodiments, ballasting is by venting and flooding compartments using individual sea chests located within the ballast compartments or a firewater system. For de-ballasting, compressed gas displaces ballast water through overboard discharges, through the common sea chest via the pressure tank, or through individual sea chests located within the ballast compartments.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for de-ballasting a body (100) floating in a sea comprising the steps of, providing fluid communication between a lower internal location in a ballast tank (11) disposed in a hull (102) of said body to an exterior of said body, providing fluid communication between s

What is claimed is: 1. A method for de-ballasting a body (100) floating in a sea comprising the steps of, providing fluid communication between a lower internal location in a ballast tank (11) disposed in a hull (102) of said body to an exterior of said body, providing fluid communication between said ballast tank with a source of compressed gas (200), and displacing liquid ballast in said ballast tank to said sea by said compressed gas, wherein the step of providing fluid communication between a lower internal location in a ballast tank to an exterior of said body further comprises the step of opening a valve connected for fluid communication between said lower internal location in said ballast tank and a sea chest carried by said hull externally of said ballast tank below the waterline and in open communication with said sea. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of, fluidly coupling a pressure tank (205) between said water inlet valve and said sea chest. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein, said step of opening a valve is performed by remote actuation. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing fluid communication between a lower internal location in a ballast tank to an exterior of said body further comprises the step of, opening a valve (735) connected for fluid communication between said lower internal location in said ballast tank and an overboard discharge (740) which exits said body at a point above the waterline. 5. A method for ballasting a vessel (100) floating an a sea comprising the steps of, venting an upper location within a ballast tank (11) disposed in a hull (102) of said vessel to an exterior of said vessel, filling a pressure tank (205) with a liquid ballast, coupling fluidly said pressure tank to a source of compressed gas (200), coupling fluidly a lower location within said pressure tank to said ballast tank, and then transferring said liquid ballast in said pressure tank to said ballast tank by displacement with said compressed gas. 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of coupling fluidly a lower location within said pressure tank to said ballast tank further comprises the steps of, opening a ballast compartment isolation valve (400) connected in fluid communication between said ballast tank and said lower location within said pressure tank. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein, said step of opening a ballast compartment isolation valve is performed by remote actuation. 8. A ballasting and de-ballasting system for a vessel ( 100) floating in a sea and comprising a hull (102) having a watertight ballast compartment (11), the ballasting and de-ballasting system comprising, a source of compressed gas (200) disposed in said vessel, a gas fluid path connected between said source of compressed gas and said ballast compartment, gas isolation valve connected in said gas fluid path, a ballast fluid path connected between a bottom location within said ballast compartment and a sea chest carried by said hull opening to an exterior of said vessel below the waterline, said sea chest disposed outside of said ballast compartment, an isolation valve connected in said ballast fluid path, wherein said ballasting and de-ballasting system is designed and arranged such that gas from said source of compressed gas via said gas fluid path may be used to displace liquid ballast in said ballast compartment to said exterior via said ballast fluid path for de-ballasting said vessel. 9. The ballasting and de-ballasting system of claim 8 further comprising, a ballast compartment vent fluid path connected between an upper location within said ballast compartment and a first overboard discharge which opens to said exterior of said vessel at a location above the waterline, and a ballast compartment vent isolation valve connected in said ballast compartment vent fluid path, wherein said ballasting and de-ballasting system is designed and arranged such that liquid ballast from said sea via said ballast fluid path may be used to displace gas in said ballast compartment to said exterior via said ballast compartment vent fluid path for ballasting said vessel. 10. The ballasting and de-ballasting system of claim 9 further comprising, a pressure tank (205) disposed in said hull outside of said ballast compartment, said pressure tank connected in said ballast fluid path between said isolation valve (400) and said sea chest (216), said pressure tank connected in said gas fluid path ( 220) between said gas isolation valve(221) and said ballast compartment, the gas fluid path between said pressure tank and said ballast compartment combined with the ballast fluid path between said pressure tank and said ballast compartment to form a common fluid path (275) having said isolation valve (400) connected therein, a sea chest isolation valve (215) connected in said ballast fluid path (214) between said pressure tank and said sea chest, a pressure tank vent fluid path (210) connected between an upper location within said pressure tank and a second overboard discharge (212) which opens to said exterior at a location above the waterline, and a pressure tank vent isolation valve (211) connected in said pressure tank vent fluid path, wherein said ballasting and de-ballasting system is designed and arranged such that liquid ballast from said sea via said ballast fluid path (214) between said sea chest (216) and said pressure tank (205) may be used to displace gas in said pressure tank to said exterior via said pressure tank vent fluid path (210) and such that gas from said source of compressed gas (200) via the gas fluid path (220) between said source of compressed gas and said pressure tank may be used to displace liquid ballast in said pressure tank to said ballast compartment via the common fluid path (275) for ballasting said vessel. 11. The ballasting and de-ballasting system of claim 10 further comprising, a secondary gas fluid path (240) connected between said source of compressed gas and said ballast compartment, said secondary gas fluid path bypassing said pressure tank (205) and said common fluid path (275), and a secondary gas isolation valve (241) connected in said secondary gas fluid path, wherein said ballasting and de-ballasting system is designed and arranged such that gas from said source of compressed gas via said secondary gas fluid path may be used to displace liquid ballast in said ballast compartment to said exterior via said common fluid path ( 275) for de-ballasting. 12. The ballasting and de-ballasting system of claim 10 further comprising, a plurality of ballast compartments (11, 12, 13) each having an associated ballast compartment isolation valve ( 400) fluidly coupled to a lower location therein, each said ballast compartment isolation valve fluidly coupled to a lower location in said pressure tank (205). 13. A ballasting and de-ballasting system for a body ( 100) floating in a sea and comprising a hull (102), the ballasting and de-ballasting system comprising, a first watertight ballast compartment (11) disposed in said hull, a sea chest carried by said hull externally of said first ballast compartment and opening to an exterior of said body below the waterline, a source of compressed gas (200) disposed in said body, an isolable first gas fluid path connected between said source of compressed gas and said first ballast compartment, an isolable first ballast fluid path connected between a bottom location within said first ballast compartment and said sea chest, wherein said ballasting and de-ballasting system is designed and arranged such that gas from said source of compressed gas via said first gas fluid path may be used to displace liquid ballast in said first ballast compartment to said exterior via said first ballast fluid path for de-ballasting said body. 14. The ballasting and de-ballasting system of claim 13 further comprising, an isolable first ballast compartment vent fluid path connected between an upper location within said first ballast compartment and a first overboard discharge which opens to said exterior of said body at a location above the waterline, wherein said ballasting and de-ballasting system is designed and arranged such that liquid ballast from said sea via said first ballast fluid path may be used to displace gas in said first ballast compartment to said exterior via said first ballast compartment vent fluid path for ballasting said-body. 15. The ballasting and de-ballasting system of claim 14 further comprising, a transfer tank (205) disposed in said hull outside of said first ballast compartment, said transfer tank connected in said first ballast fluid path, a sea chest isolation valve (215) connected in said first ballast fluid path (214) between said transfer tank and said sea chest, a first lower isolation valve connected in said first ballast fluid path between said transfer tank and said first ballast compartment, and an isolable transfer tank vent fluid path (210) connected between an upper location within said transfer tank and said exterior at a location above the waterline. 16. The ballasting and de-ballasting system of claim 15 wherein, said transfer tank is connected in said first gas fluid path (220) between said source of compressed gas and said first ballast compartment, the portion of the first gas fluid path between said transfer tank and said first ballast compartment and the portion of the first ballast fluid path between said transfer tank and said first ballast compartment defining a common fluid path (275) having said first lower isolation valve (400) connected therein, wherein said ballasting and de-ballasting system is designed and arranged such that liquid ballast from said sea via the portion of said first ballast fluid path (214) between said sea chest (216) and said transfer tank (205) may be used to displace gas in said transfer tank to said exterior via said transfer tank vent fluid path ( 210) and such that gas from said source of compressed gas (200) via the portion of the first gas fluid path (220) between said source of compressed gas and said transfer tank may be used to displace liquid ballast in said pressure tank to said first ballast compartment via the common fluid path (275) for ballasting said body. 17. The ballasting and de-ballasting system of claim 13 further comprising, a second watertight ballast compartment (12) disposed in said hull so that said sea chest is located externally of said second ballast compartment, an isolable second gas fluid path connected between said source of compressed gas and said second ballast compartment, an isolable second ballast fluid path connected between a bottom location within said second ballast compartment and said sea chest, and an isolable second ballast compartment vent fluid path connected between an upper location within said second ballast compartment and said exterior of said body at a location above the waterline.