COUPLING METHOD FOR NEW AND USED HULLS AT TRANSFERRING TIME OF LOW-TEMPERATURE LIQUEFIED GAS STORING TANKS TO SEA

摘要

PURPOSE:To have simple and effective operation of hull replacement for an LNG carrier ship by coupling the used and new hulls with each other by their side parts having an opening using a coupling means of metal, and then performing tank transfers. CONSTITUTION:In order to perform hull replacement of an LNG carrier ship, the side part 16 of the upper deck of that one 5 of hulls 5, 6 afloat at sea which is to substitute for the used one 6 shall be equipped with No.1 metal fitting 17. Inside a fitting recess formed in this metal fitting 17, a boss formed at No.2 metal fitting 20 is located at the side part 19 of the upper deck mating with the used hull 6. A wedge is inserted in and fixed to these boss and recess so as to couple the hulls 5, 6 into as a single solid piece. The tank 1 in this used hull 6 is transferred to the hold 2 of the new hull 5 with the aid of a runner 10. According to this arrangement, the used and new hulls can be coupled solidly at sea to easure that operations such as transferring tanks, replacing hulls, etc. are conducted simply and efficiently.