Asymmetric Bunkering Vessel Accommodation Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the maritime industry, ship-to-ship fuel delivery poses challenges due to the size disparity between the fuel delivery vessel and the recipient ship, leading to potential collisions and damage from rocking motions in turbulent waters.
Innovation Solution
A fuel bunkering vessel design featuring a multi-deck accommodation structure positioned asymmetrically along one hull side, balanced about an amidships plane, and equipped with marine propulsion systems capable of dynamic positioning to minimize collisions and stabilize operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a smaller fuel delivery ship is moored to a much larger recipient ship, then fuel delivery operations can be performed, but the smaller ship rocks significantly in turbulent water leading to potential collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The accommodation structure is positioned asymmetrically on one side of the fuel delivery vessel rather than symmetrically in the center. This asymmetric placement allows the structure to be positioned away from the mooring line side, reducing the risk of collision with the larger recipient ship while maintaining operational effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The accommodation structure extends vertically above the main deck, utilizing the vertical dimension to house crew quarters, bridge, and machinery. This vertical arrangement reduces the horizontal footprint and allows the structure to clear the larger ship's equipment overhang, preventing collisions while maintaining functional space.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the accommodation block is positioned symmetrically at bow or stern, then structural balance is maintained, but the vertical profile may collide with larger ship equipment overhanging the side
Solution Approach 1:
The accommodation structure is deliberately positioned asymmetrically on one side of the vessel rather than symmetrically at bow or stern. This asymmetric placement moves the structure away from the side where the larger recipient ship's equipment overhangs, eliminating the collision risk while maintaining vessel stability through alternative balancing methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric positioning of the accommodation structure is designed in advance to preemptively avoid collision with overhanging equipment. By placing the structure on the opposite side from where equipment overhang is expected, the design proactively prevents the harmful interaction before it can occur during mooring operations.
3Reliability
If a low-profile barge is moored between the fender and fuel delivery ship, then collision risk is reduced, but the complexity of the mooring system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The function of collision prevention is extracted from the mooring system by designing the accommodation structure itself to have a reduced vertical profile on the mooring line side. This eliminates the need for an additional low-profile barge intermediary, as the accommodation structure's asymmetric design inherently prevents collision with the larger ship.
Solution Approach 2:
The accommodation structure serves multiple functions: housing crew quarters, containing the bridge, housing machinery, and simultaneously acting as a collision prevention feature through its asymmetric positioning. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate collision prevention devices like low-profile barges, reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A bunkering marine vessel has an elongated, multi-deck accommodation structure extending along a portion of the length of one hull side and spaced apart from a centerline extending from bow to stern. Positioned within the vessel hull is at least one LNG pressure vessel filling at least 50% of the hull volume and extending from adjacent a lowermost deck to adjacent the main deck. At least one marine gasoil tank is positioned along an opposing hull side to counter the weight of the accommodation structure, The bow and stern ends of the vessel are substantially the same in shape, and each end includes a marine propulsion system.