Ocean going transport vessel with docking arrangements

摘要

An ocean going transport vessel (11) having a pair of parallel spaced apart longitudinal hulls (13, 15), supporting a first deck portion (17) located above and extending across the hulls (13, 15) and forming a structural link between the hulls (13, 15), located toward one end of the hulls (13, 15), and preferably above the normal operating waterline of said vessel (11). Each hull (13, 15) includes a further deck portion (65, 67) extending at least from the first deck portion (17) to the other end of the hulls (13, 15). The hulls (13, 15) have ballast tanks to allow adjustment of the draft and trim of the vessel (11). The hulls (13, 15) and deck portions (17, 65, 67) form a U-shape when viewed from above and below. A void (105) extends between further deck portions (65, 67) and associated hulls (13, 15) for stowage or suspension of a load or a subassembly such as a cradle, a frame, or a deck. The further deck portions (65, 67) extend longitudinally beyond the hulls (13, 15), supported in cantilever-type fashion as cantilevered deck portions (95, 97) which each include a docking point (207) arranged to support the vessel by the cantilevered deck portions, by the docking point (207) resting on a structural support.