EP1578661B1 - Installation for the recovery of a polluting fluid contained in at least one transverse section of the tanks of a sunken vessel - Google Patents

Installation for the recovery of a polluting fluid contained in at least one transverse section of the tanks of a sunken vessel Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1578661B1
EP1578661B1 EP03815411A EP03815411A EP1578661B1 EP 1578661 B1 EP1578661 B1 EP 1578661B1 EP 03815411 A EP03815411 A EP 03815411A EP 03815411 A EP03815411 A EP 03815411A EP 1578661 B1 EP1578661 B1 EP 1578661B1
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Prior art keywords
tanks
block
installation
fixed
installation according
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1578661A1 (en
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Jean-Luc Dabi
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JLMD Ecologic Group
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JLMD Ecologic Group
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C7/00—Salvaging of disabled, stranded, or sunken vessels; Salvaging of vessel parts or furnishings, e.g. of safes; Salvaging of other underwater objects
    • B63C7/006—Emptying the contents of sunken, stranded, or disabled vessels, e.g. by engaging the vessel; Underwater collecting of buoyant contents, such as liquid, particulate or gaseous contents, escaping from sunken vessels, e.g. using funnels, or tents for recovery of escaping hydrocarbons
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C7/00—Salvaging of disabled, stranded, or sunken vessels; Salvaging of vessel parts or furnishings, e.g. of safes; Salvaging of other underwater objects
    • B63C7/16—Apparatus engaging vessels or objects

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an installation for the recovery of a polluting fluid contained in at least one transverse vessel slice of a cast vessel.
  • This recovery system includes a compartment in each vessel of the ship failed, this compartment containing several flow pipes and a float element capable of being ejected out of the sunken ship. More specifically, for each compartment, this system comprises a pollutant fluid discharge pipe having a first end connected to the tank and a second end connected to the float element. This second end can then be eradicated at a sufficient distance from the cast vessel using a cable to which the float element is attached. For each compartment, this system also has a suction pipe and an injection pipe both connected to the discharge pipe and respectively provided with a first end floating on the surface of the polluting fluid contained in the tank, and a weighted first end disposed in the bottom of said tank.
  • this system comprises a connecting pipe coming from a rescue ship on the surface and having, on the one hand, a first end connected by interlocking in the second end of the discharge pipe, and on the other a second end connected to a pump installed on the rescue ship.
  • pressurized water is injected from the rescue vessel into the bottom of the tank via the injection pipe.
  • the polluting fluid is then sent back to the rescue vessel via the suction pipe, the discharge pipe and the connecting pipe.
  • This recovery system nevertheless has a drawback consisting in the fact that, when the ship has sunk, it is not easy to access from outside the compartments housed in the tanks.
  • Another disadvantage lies in the fact that, although it is possible to provide for the installation of such compartments in the tanks during the construction of the ship, it is however very difficult to carry out such an installation on an existing ship.
  • the compartments being stored inside the tanks, sealing and safety problems can be raised.
  • this system necessarily providing, on the one hand, to remove the second end of the discharge pipe out of the tank, and secondly, to raise the second end of the injection pipe to the surface, it As a result, the connection between the connecting pipe and the discharge pipe is relatively complex to achieve. Finally, it is not necessary to ballast the second end of the injection pipe since the density of the water introduced under pressure is higher than that of the polluting fluid.
  • the present invention aims to provide an improvement to the recovery system described above, and consists of an installation for the recovery of a pollutant fluid contained in at least one transverse vessel slice of a sunken vessel, this installation comprising means for introducing pressurized water into the wafer and means for discharging the polluting fluid to the outside of the wafer, at least one connecting pipe coming from a standby vessel that can be connected to one of the discharge means, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of fixed pipes each having a first and a second end, these fixed pipes being positioned so that their first ends open at least at each of the corners of the ends of the the slice of tanks and that their second ends are each attached to a valve which, on the one hand, is housed in a compartment fixed to the above the waterline of the sunken vessel, and secondly, can be controlled from outside the sunken ship, each of said fixed pipes being able, according to the grounding position of the sunken ship, to constitute a means of introduction pressurized water inside the wafer or means for discharging the
  • each of the compartments containing valves being located above the waterline of the sunken vessel, a ROV (remote controlled submarine robot) or a diver can access these compartments much more easily and thus proceed to the connection operations and control.
  • these compartments being preferably fixed on the deck of the ship, implantation on an existing ship is relatively easy, and any problems of sealing and safety are solved.
  • the end of a fixed pipe opens into each corner of the ends of the transverse vessel slice, and on the other hand, that each fixed pipe is connected to a valve at its second end, it is no longer necessary to provide the rise of one end of the injection pipe to allow the introduction of pressurized water from the ship of help.
  • the ROV or the plunger can directly control the opening at the choice of one or more valves housed in compartments accessible from outside the ship.
  • the fixed pipe or pipes associated with this or these valves therefore act as introduction pipes, the hydrostatic pressure seawater rushing through said valves, then penetrating along each of these fixed pipes, and finally being introduced into the transverse tank slice. Since seawater has a density higher than that of the pollutant, it follows that the latter is discharged by the seawater to the highest point of the transverse vessel slice. This polluting fluid is then introduced into at least one other fixed pipe, acting as a discharge pipe, the first end of which is in the highest end corner of the transeversal cell slice.
  • This pollutant fluid is then discharged along this fixed pipe towards the associated compartment, then discharged along the connecting pipe, to which the second end of the fixed discharge pipe is connected, in the direction of the surface where the vessel is located. rescue, and finally can be poured from the connecting pipe into the tanks of the emergency vessel using a pump mounted on it.
  • a pair of fixed pipes may be connected to each compartment containing two valves, each pair of fixed pipes comprising, firstly, a first fixed pipe of reduced length opening in the upper part of the slice of tanks, and other second, a fixed pipe opening in the lower part of the slice of tanks and having a length greater than the height of the tanks.
  • four separate compartments containing valves are associated with each transverse vessel slice of the vessel.
  • each pipe of reduced length may not lead into the transverse vessel slice with which it is associated. Indeed, when a compartment is positioned near one of the end corners of the transverse vessel slice, the reduced length pipe may consist of a channel formed inside the compartment, this channel having a first end in the form of a single hole made in the bottom of the compartment at a level end corner of the wafer, and a second end accessible from outside the compartment.
  • An installation according to the invention can be adapted to any type of transverse vessel slice, for example a transverse vessel slice comprising several vessels that can communicate with each other after opening valves provided in walls separating said tanks.
  • these valves are positioned in the lower part and in the upper part of each of the walls separating the tanks of a slice.
  • each tank can be drained independently of the other tanks of the same transverse slice.
  • each tank is separated from an adjacent tank by a partition, and that this partition is passed through, in the vicinity of each of its corners, by a fitting on which is reported a valve weighted fit, according to the positioning of the ship, to close or unclog the passage section of said fitting.
  • valves housed in the compartments, and if necessary, the valves provided in the walls separating said tanks are guillotine valves.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view from above of a vessel 1 having five slices 2 of transverse tanks of substantially parallelepiped shape to which compartments 3 are connected.
  • each slice 2 of transverse tanks contains a polluting liquid 4, and consists of a central tank 5 and two side tanks 6, these different tanks 5, 6 can communicate with each other after opening the guillotine valves 7 provided in the walls separating these tanks 5, 6. The opening of each of these valves 7 can be controlled from outside the vessel 1.
  • the compartments 3 are positioned on the deck (not shown) of the ship 1, and are connected to the side tanks 6 of the end slices 2 and the side tanks 6 of the intermediate slices 2. Thus, regardless of the stranding position of the vessel 1, each of the slices 2 of transverse tanks can be emptied via at least two compartments 3.
  • a metal or flexible fixed pipe of reduced length, and a fixed metal or flexible pipe T, having a length greater than the height of the tanks 5, 6, connect each compartment 3 to a side tank 6 of a slice 2.
  • the diameter of a fixed pipe t is identical to that of a fixed pipe T.
  • each fixed pipe t of reduced length has, on the one hand, a first end 8 opening in the vicinity of an end wedge located in the upper part of the associated wafer 2, and secondly, a second end 9 connected to a guillotine valve 10 housed in the compartment 3 and accessible from outside the vessel 1 via a quick connector 11.
  • Each fixed pipe T of large size has, on the one hand, a first end 12 opening in the vicinity of an end corner located in the lower part of the associated wafer 2, and secondly, a second end 13 connected to a guillotine valve 14 housed in the compartment 3 and accessible from outside the vessel 1 via a quick coupling 15.
  • the ship 1 represented in FIG. 4 has only a single slice 2 of lateral tanks according to FIG. 3.
  • an emergency vessel 30 is positioned substantially vertically to the vessel 1 after locating it.
  • a connecting pipe L is then arranged between the emergency vessel 30 and one of the accessible compartments 3 of the ship 1. More specifically, this connecting pipe L has, on the one hand, a first end connected to a pump 31 installed on the rescue ship 30, and secondly, a second end 32 which is connected, by an ROV or a plunger, to the quick connector 11 of the guillotine valve 10 itself connected to the second end 9 of the pipe fixed t of this compartment 3.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Extraction Or Liquid Replacement (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
  • Cleaning Or Clearing Of The Surface Of Open Water (AREA)
  • Physical Water Treatments (AREA)
  • Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
  • Loading And Unloading Of Fuel Tanks Or Ships (AREA)
  • Removal Of Floating Material (AREA)
  • Separation Of Particles Using Liquids (AREA)
  • Pipeline Systems (AREA)
  • Structure Of Emergency Protection For Nuclear Reactors (AREA)
  • Food Preservation Except Freezing, Refrigeration, And Drying (AREA)

Description

La présente invention se rapporte à une installation pour la récupération d'un fluide polluant contenu dans au moins une tranche de cuves transversale d'un navire coulé.The present invention relates to an installation for the recovery of a polluting fluid contained in at least one transverse vessel slice of a cast vessel.

Suite aux récents naufrages de navires transportant des fluides polluants, il a été proposé, dans la demande de brevet WO 02/057131 déposée au nom de Environment Technological Group et désignant Monsieur DABI comme inventeur, un système de récupération simple et fiable d'un fluide polluant contenu dans les cuves d'un navire coulé.Following the recent sinking of ships carrying polluting fluids, it was proposed in the patent application WO 02/057131 filed on behalf of Environment Technological Group and designating Mr DABI as inventor, a simple and reliable recovery system of a polluting fluid contained in the tanks of a sunken ship.

Ce système de récupération comprend un compartiment dans chacune des cuves du navire échoué, ce compartiment renfermant plusieurs tuyaux d'écoulement ainsi qu'un élément flotteur capable d'être éjecté hors du navire coulé. Plus précisément, pour chaque compartiment, ce système comprend un tuyau d'évacuation du fluide polluant comportant une première extrémité reliée à la cuve et une seconde extrémité reliée à l'élément flotteur. Cette seconde extrémité peut alors être extirpée à distance suffisante du navire coulé à l'aide d'un câble auquel est rattaché l'élément flotteur. Pour chaque compartiment, ce système présente également un tuyau d'aspiration et un tuyau d'injection tous deux connectés au tuyau d'évacuation et respectivement munis d'une première extrémité flottant à la surface du fluide polluant contenu dans la cuve, et d'une première extrémité lestée disposée dans le fond de ladite cuve. Enfin, pour chaque compartiment, ce système comprend un tuyau de liaison venant d'un navire de secours en surface et comportant, d'une part, une première extrémité connectée par emboîtement dans la seconde extrémité du tuyau d'évacuation, et d'autre part, une seconde extrémité reliée à une pompe installée sur le navire de secours. En fonctionnement, de l'eau sous pression est injectée depuis le navire de secours dans le fond de la cuve via le tuyau d'injection. Le fluide polluant est alors refoulé vers le navire de secours via le tuyau d'aspiration, le tuyau d'évacuation et le tuyau de liaison.This recovery system includes a compartment in each vessel of the ship failed, this compartment containing several flow pipes and a float element capable of being ejected out of the sunken ship. More specifically, for each compartment, this system comprises a pollutant fluid discharge pipe having a first end connected to the tank and a second end connected to the float element. This second end can then be eradicated at a sufficient distance from the cast vessel using a cable to which the float element is attached. For each compartment, this system also has a suction pipe and an injection pipe both connected to the discharge pipe and respectively provided with a first end floating on the surface of the polluting fluid contained in the tank, and a weighted first end disposed in the bottom of said tank. Finally, for each compartment, this system comprises a connecting pipe coming from a rescue ship on the surface and having, on the one hand, a first end connected by interlocking in the second end of the discharge pipe, and on the other a second end connected to a pump installed on the rescue ship. In operation, pressurized water is injected from the rescue vessel into the bottom of the tank via the injection pipe. The polluting fluid is then sent back to the rescue vessel via the suction pipe, the discharge pipe and the connecting pipe.

Ce système de récupération présente néanmoins un inconvénient consistant dans le fait que, lorsque le navire a coulé, il n'est pas aisé d'accéder depuis l'extérieur aux compartiments logés dans les cuves. Un autre inconvénient réside dans le fait que, s'il est possible de prévoir l'installation de tels compartiments dans les cuves lors de la construction du navire, il est en revanche très délicat de procéder à une telle installation sur un navire existant. Par ailleurs, les compartiments étant stockés à l'intérieur des cuves, des problèmes d'étanchéité et de sécurité peuvent être soulevés. De plus, ce système prévoyant nécessairement, d'une part, d'extirper la seconde extrémité du tuyau d'évacuation hors de la cuve, et d'autre part, de remonter la seconde extrémité du tuyau d'injection à la surface, il en découle que la connexion entre le tuyau de liaison et le tuyau d'évacuation est relativement complexe à réaliser. Enfin, il n'est pas nécessaire de lester la seconde extrémité du tuyau d'injection puisque la densité de l'eau introduite sous-pression est supérieure à celle du fluide polluant.This recovery system nevertheless has a drawback consisting in the fact that, when the ship has sunk, it is not easy to access from outside the compartments housed in the tanks. Another disadvantage lies in the fact that, although it is possible to provide for the installation of such compartments in the tanks during the construction of the ship, it is however very difficult to carry out such an installation on an existing ship. Moreover, the compartments being stored inside the tanks, sealing and safety problems can be raised. In addition, this system necessarily providing, on the one hand, to remove the second end of the discharge pipe out of the tank, and secondly, to raise the second end of the injection pipe to the surface, it As a result, the connection between the connecting pipe and the discharge pipe is relatively complex to achieve. Finally, it is not necessary to ballast the second end of the injection pipe since the density of the water introduced under pressure is higher than that of the polluting fluid.

La présente invention a pour but d'apporter un perfectionnement au système de récupération décrit ci-dessus, et consiste en une installation pour la récupération d'un fluide polluant contenu dans au moins une tranche de cuves transversale d'un navire coulé, cette installation comprenant des moyens d'introduction d'eau sous pression dans la tranche et des moyens de refoulement du fluide polluant vers l'extérieur de la tranche, au moins un tuyau de liaison provenant d'un navire de secours pouvant être connecté à l'un des moyens de refoulement, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend une pluralité de tuyaux fixes présentant chacun une première et une seconde extrémités, ces tuyaux fixes étant positionnés de telle sorte que leurs premières extrémités débouchent au moins au niveau de chacun des coins des extrémités de la tranche de cuves et que leurs secondes extrémités soient chacune rattachées à une vanne qui, d'une part, est logée dans un compartiment fixé au-dessus de la ligne de flottaison du navire coulé, et d'autre part, peut être commandée depuis l'extérieur du navire coulé, chacun desdits tuyaux fixes pouvant, suivant la position d'échouage du navire coulé, constituer un moyen d'introduction d'eau sous pression à l'intérieur de la tranche ou un moyen de refoulement du fluide polluant vers l'extérieur de ladite tranche.The present invention aims to provide an improvement to the recovery system described above, and consists of an installation for the recovery of a pollutant fluid contained in at least one transverse vessel slice of a sunken vessel, this installation comprising means for introducing pressurized water into the wafer and means for discharging the polluting fluid to the outside of the wafer, at least one connecting pipe coming from a standby vessel that can be connected to one of the discharge means, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of fixed pipes each having a first and a second end, these fixed pipes being positioned so that their first ends open at least at each of the corners of the ends of the the slice of tanks and that their second ends are each attached to a valve which, on the one hand, is housed in a compartment fixed to the above the waterline of the sunken vessel, and secondly, can be controlled from outside the sunken ship, each of said fixed pipes being able, according to the grounding position of the sunken ship, to constitute a means of introduction pressurized water inside the wafer or means for discharging the polluting fluid to the outside of said wafer.

En effet, chacun des compartiments contenant des vannes étant situé au-dessus de ligne de flottaison du navire coulé, un R.O.V. (robot sous-marin télécommandé) ou un plongeur peut accéder beaucoup plus facilement à ces compartiments et ainsi procéder aux opérations de connexion et de commande. De plus, ces compartiments étant de préférence fixés sur le pont du navire, l'implantation sur un navire existant est relativement aisée, et les éventuels problèmes d'étanchéité et de sécurité sont résolus. Par ailleurs, étant donné, d'une part, que l'extrémité d'un tuyau fixe débouche dans chaque coin des extrémités de la tranche de cuves transversale, et d'autre part, que chaque tuyau fixe est relié à une vanne au niveau de sa seconde extrémité, il n'est plus nécessaire de prévoir la remontée de l'une des extrémités du tuyau d'injection afin de permettre l'introduction d'eau sous pression depuis le navire de secours. En effet, le R.O.V. ou le plongeur peut directement commander l'ouverture au choix d'une ou de plusieurs vannes logées dans des compartiments accessibles depuis l'extérieur du navire. Le ou les tuyaux fixes associés à cette ou ces vannes agissent par conséquent comme des tuyaux d'introduction, l'eau de mer à pression hydrostatique s'engouffrant par lesdites vannes, puis pénétrant le long de chacun de ces tuyaux fixes, et étant finalement introduite dans la tranche de cuves transversale. L'eau de mer possédant une densité supérieure à celle du fluide polluant, il en découle que ce dernier est refoulé par l'eau de mer vers le point le plus haut de la tranche de cuves transversale. Ce fluide polluant est alors amené à pénétrer dans au moins un autre tuyau fixe, agissant en tant que tuyau de refoulement, dont la première extrémité se situe dans le coin d'extrémité le plus haut de la tranche de cuves transeversale. Ce fluide polluant est ensuite refoulé le long de ce tuyau fixe en direction du compartiment associé, puis refoulé le long du tuyau de liaison, auquel la seconde extrémité du tuyau fixe de refoulement est connectée, en direction de la surface où est situé le navire de secours, et enfin peut être déversé du tuyau de liaison dans les cuves du navire de secours à l'aide d'une pompe montée sur celui-ci.Indeed, each of the compartments containing valves being located above the waterline of the sunken vessel, a ROV (remote controlled submarine robot) or a diver can access these compartments much more easily and thus proceed to the connection operations and control. In addition, these compartments being preferably fixed on the deck of the ship, implantation on an existing ship is relatively easy, and any problems of sealing and safety are solved. Moreover, given, on the one hand, that the end of a fixed pipe opens into each corner of the ends of the transverse vessel slice, and on the other hand, that each fixed pipe is connected to a valve at its second end, it is no longer necessary to provide the rise of one end of the injection pipe to allow the introduction of pressurized water from the ship of help. Indeed, the ROV or the plunger can directly control the opening at the choice of one or more valves housed in compartments accessible from outside the ship. The fixed pipe or pipes associated with this or these valves therefore act as introduction pipes, the hydrostatic pressure seawater rushing through said valves, then penetrating along each of these fixed pipes, and finally being introduced into the transverse tank slice. Since seawater has a density higher than that of the pollutant, it follows that the latter is discharged by the seawater to the highest point of the transverse vessel slice. This polluting fluid is then introduced into at least one other fixed pipe, acting as a discharge pipe, the first end of which is in the highest end corner of the transeversal cell slice. This pollutant fluid is then discharged along this fixed pipe towards the associated compartment, then discharged along the connecting pipe, to which the second end of the fixed discharge pipe is connected, in the direction of the surface where the vessel is located. rescue, and finally can be poured from the connecting pipe into the tanks of the emergency vessel using a pump mounted on it.

Préférentiellement, une paire de tuyaux fixes peut être connectée à chaque compartiment contenant deux vannes, chaque paire de tuyaux fixes comprenant, d'une part, un premier tuyau fixe de longueur réduite débouchant en partie haute de la tranche de cuves, et d'autre part, un second tuyau fixe débouchant en partie basse de la tranche de cuves et possédant une longueur supérieure à la hauteur des cuves. Avantageusement, quatre compartiments distincts contenant des vannes sont associés à chaque tranche de cuves transversale du navire.Preferably, a pair of fixed pipes may be connected to each compartment containing two valves, each pair of fixed pipes comprising, firstly, a first fixed pipe of reduced length opening in the upper part of the slice of tanks, and other second, a fixed pipe opening in the lower part of the slice of tanks and having a length greater than the height of the tanks. Advantageously, four separate compartments containing valves are associated with each transverse vessel slice of the vessel.

Il doit être compris au sens de la présente invention que chaque tuyau de longueur réduite peut ne pas déboucher dans la tranche de cuves transversale à laquelle il est associé. En effet, lorsqu'un compartiment est positionné à proximité de l'un des coins d'extrémité de la tranche de cuves transversale, le tuyau de longueur réduite peut consister en un canal ménagé à l'intérieur du compartiment, ce canal présentant une première extrémité sous la forme d'un simple orifice réalisé dans le fond du compartiment au niveau d'un coin d'extrémité de la tranche, et une seconde extrémité accessible depuis l'extérieur du compartiment.It should be understood within the meaning of the present invention that each pipe of reduced length may not lead into the transverse vessel slice with which it is associated. Indeed, when a compartment is positioned near one of the end corners of the transverse vessel slice, the reduced length pipe may consist of a channel formed inside the compartment, this channel having a first end in the form of a single hole made in the bottom of the compartment at a level end corner of the wafer, and a second end accessible from outside the compartment.

Une installation selon l'invention peut être adaptée à tout type de tranche de cuves transversale, par exemple une tranche de cuves transversale comprenant plusieurs cuves pouvant communiquer entre elles après ouverture de vannes prévues dans des parois séparant lesdites cuves. Préférentiellement, ces vannes sont positionnées en partie basse et en partie haute de chacune des parois séparant les cuves d'une tranche.An installation according to the invention can be adapted to any type of transverse vessel slice, for example a transverse vessel slice comprising several vessels that can communicate with each other after opening valves provided in walls separating said tanks. Preferably, these valves are positioned in the lower part and in the upper part of each of the walls separating the tanks of a slice.

Bien évidemment, si les cuves ne peuvent pas communiquer entre elles, il suffit de prévoir qu'une première extrémité d'un tuyau fixe débouche dans chacun des coins de chaque cuve. Dans ce cas, chaque cuve peut être vidangée indépendamment des autres cuves de la même tranche transversale.Of course, if the tanks can not communicate with each other, it is sufficient to provide that a first end of a fixed pipe opens into each corner of each tank. In this case, each tank can be drained independently of the other tanks of the same transverse slice.

En variante, il peut être prévu que chaque cuve soit séparée d'une cuve adjacente par une cloison, et que cette cloison séparatrice soit traversée, au voisinage de chacun de ses coins, par un raccord sur lequel est rapporté un clapet lesté apte, selon le positionnement du navire, à obturer ou désobturer la section de passage dudit raccord.Alternatively, it may be provided that each tank is separated from an adjacent tank by a partition, and that this partition is passed through, in the vicinity of each of its corners, by a fitting on which is reported a valve weighted fit, according to the positioning of the ship, to close or unclog the passage section of said fitting.

Préférentiellement, les vannes logées dans les compartiments, et le cas échéant, les vannes prévues dans les parois séparants lesdites cuves, sont des vannes à guillotine.Preferably, the valves housed in the compartments, and if necessary, the valves provided in the walls separating said tanks, are guillotine valves.

L'invention sera mieux comprise à l'aide de la description détaillée qui est exposée ci-après en regard du dessin annexé dans lequel :

  • La figure 1 est une vue schématique de dessus d'un navire comprenant plusieurs tranches de cuves transversales, équipé d'une installation selon l'invention ;
  • La figure 2 est une vue schématique partielle en perspective de deux tranches de cuves transversale du navire représenté à la figure 1 avec omission des cuves centrales ;
  • La figure 3 est une vue schématique en coupe selon la ligne III-III de la tranche de cuves transversale représentées à la figure 2.
  • La figure 4 est une vue schématique de l'installation selon l'invention après raccordement d'un tuyau de liaison provenant d'un navire de secours sur un compartiment du navire échoué.
The invention will be better understood with the aid of the detailed description which is explained below with reference to the appended drawing in which:
  • Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a vessel comprising several slices of transverse tanks, equipped with an installation according to the invention;
  • Figure 2 is a partial schematic perspective view of two transverse vessel slices of the vessel shown in Figure 1 with omission of the central tanks;
  • FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional view along the line III-III of the transverse vessel slice shown in FIG.
  • Figure 4 is a schematic view of the installation according to the invention after connecting a connecting pipe from a rescue ship on a compartment of the ship failed.

La figure 1 est une vue schématique de dessus d'un navire 1 présentant cinq tranches 2 de cuves transversales de forme sensiblement parallélépipédiques auxquelles sont reliés des compartiments 3.FIG. 1 is a schematic view from above of a vessel 1 having five slices 2 of transverse tanks of substantially parallelepiped shape to which compartments 3 are connected.

Plus précisément, chaque tranche 2 de cuves transversale contient un liquide polluant 4, et est constituée d'une cuve centrale 5 et de deux cuves latérales 6, ces différentes cuves 5, 6 pouvant communiquer entre elles après ouverture des vannes à guillotine 7 prévues dans les parois séparant ces cuves 5, 6. L'ouverture de chacune de ces vannes 7 peut être commandée depuis l'extérieur du navire 1.More specifically, each slice 2 of transverse tanks contains a polluting liquid 4, and consists of a central tank 5 and two side tanks 6, these different tanks 5, 6 can communicate with each other after opening the guillotine valves 7 provided in the walls separating these tanks 5, 6. The opening of each of these valves 7 can be controlled from outside the vessel 1.

Les compartiments 3 sont positionnés sur le pont (non représenté) du navire 1, et sont reliés aux cuves latérales 6 des tranches 2 d'extrémité et aux cuves latérales 6 des tranches 2 intermédiaires. Ainsi, quelle que soit la position d'échouage du navire 1, chacune des tranches 2 de cuves transversales peut être vidangée par l'intermédiaire d'au moins deux compartiments 3.The compartments 3 are positioned on the deck (not shown) of the ship 1, and are connected to the side tanks 6 of the end slices 2 and the side tanks 6 of the intermediate slices 2. Thus, regardless of the stranding position of the vessel 1, each of the slices 2 of transverse tanks can be emptied via at least two compartments 3.

En se reportant aux figures 2 et 3, on observe qu'un tuyau fixe t métallique ou souple, de longueur réduite, et qu'un tuyau fixe T métallique ou souple, possédant une longueur supérieure à la hauteur des cuves 5, 6, relient chaque compartiment 3 à une cuve latérale 6 d'une tranche 2. En section, le diamètre d'un tuyau fixe t est identique à celui d'un tuyau fixe T.With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that a metal or flexible fixed pipe, of reduced length, and a fixed metal or flexible pipe T, having a length greater than the height of the tanks 5, 6, connect each compartment 3 to a side tank 6 of a slice 2. In section, the diameter of a fixed pipe t is identical to that of a fixed pipe T.

Plus précisément, chaque tuyau fixe t de longueur réduite présente, d'une part, une première extrémité 8 débouchant au voisinage d'un coin d'extrémité situé en partie haute de la tranche 2 associée, et d'autre part, une seconde extrémité 9 connectée à une vanne à guillotine 10 logée dans le compartiment 3 et accessible depuis l'extérieur du navire 1 par l'intermédiaire d'un raccord rapide 11.More specifically, each fixed pipe t of reduced length has, on the one hand, a first end 8 opening in the vicinity of an end wedge located in the upper part of the associated wafer 2, and secondly, a second end 9 connected to a guillotine valve 10 housed in the compartment 3 and accessible from outside the vessel 1 via a quick connector 11.

Chaque tuyau fixe T de grande dimension présente, d'une part, une première extrémité 12 débouchant au voisinage d'un coin d'extrémité situé en partie basse de la tranche 2 associée, et d'autre part, une seconde extrémité 13 connectée à une vanne à guillotine 14 logée dans le compartiment 3 et accessible depuis l'extérieur du navire 1 par l'intermédiaire d'un raccord rapide 15.Each fixed pipe T of large size has, on the one hand, a first end 12 opening in the vicinity of an end corner located in the lower part of the associated wafer 2, and secondly, a second end 13 connected to a guillotine valve 14 housed in the compartment 3 and accessible from outside the vessel 1 via a quick coupling 15.

De façon à faciliter la compréhension de l'invention, le navire 1 représenté à la figure 4 ne comporte qu'une seule tranche 2 de cuves latérale selon la figure 3. Lorsque le navire 1 a coulé et repose sur le fond 28 de la mer 29, un navire de secours 30 vient se positionner sensiblement à la verticale du navire 1 après repérage de ce dernier. Un tuyau de liaison L est alors disposé entre le navire de secours 30 et l'un des compartiments 3 accessibles du navire 1. Plus précisément, ce tuyau de liaison L présente, d'une part, une première extrémité reliée à une pompe 31 installée sur le navire de secours 30, et d'autre part, une seconde extrémité 32 qui est connectée, par un R.O.V ou par un plongeur, au raccord rapide 11 de la vanne à guillotine 10 elle-même raccordée à la seconde extrémité 9 du tuyau fixe t de ce compartiment 3.In order to facilitate the understanding of the invention, the ship 1 represented in FIG. 4 has only a single slice 2 of lateral tanks according to FIG. 3. When the ship 1 has sunk and rests on the bottom 28 of the sea 29, an emergency vessel 30 is positioned substantially vertically to the vessel 1 after locating it. A connecting pipe L is then arranged between the emergency vessel 30 and one of the accessible compartments 3 of the ship 1. More specifically, this connecting pipe L has, on the one hand, a first end connected to a pump 31 installed on the rescue ship 30, and secondly, a second end 32 which is connected, by an ROV or a plunger, to the quick connector 11 of the guillotine valve 10 itself connected to the second end 9 of the pipe fixed t of this compartment 3.

Après ouverture, d'une part, des vannes à guillotine 10, 14 logées dans ce compartiment 3, et d'autre part, des vannes 7 prévues dans les parois séparant les cuves 5, 6 de la même tranche 2, de l'eau de mer 29 à pression hydrostatique est introduite dans la tranche 2 via le tuyau fixe T. L'eau de mer 29 possédant une densité supérieure à celle du fluide polluant 4 contenu dans la tranche 2, ce dernier est alors refoulé par l'eau de mer 29 à travers le tuyau fixe t et le tuyau de liaison L, puis finalement déversé dans les cuves du navire de secours 30 à l'aide de la pompe 31. En cas de fioul très lourd, il peut être utile de connecter une pompe immergée au niveau du navire échoué, pour accélérer la remontée dudit fioul vers la surface.After opening, on the one hand, guillotine valves 10, 14 housed in this compartment 3, and on the other hand, valves 7 provided in the walls separating the tanks 5, 6 of the same slice 2, water seawater 29 with hydrostatic pressure is introduced into the slice 2 via the fixed pipe T. The seawater 29 having a density greater than that of the pollutant fluid 4 contained in the slice 2, the latter is then discharged by the water of sea 29 through the fixed pipe t and the connecting pipe L, and finally discharged into the tanks of the relief vessel 30 with the pump 31. In case of very heavy fuel oil, it may be useful to connect a pump immersed at the level of the ship failed, to accelerate the ascent of said fuel oil to the surface.

II est à noter que l'on pourrait aboutir au même résultat en connectant ce tuyau de liaison L, non pas au tuyau fixe t de longueur réduite, mais au tuyau fixe T de grande longueur. En effet, dans ce cas, le tuyau t agirait en tant que tuyau d'introduction d'eau de mer 29 à pression hydrostatique, et le tuyau T jouerait le rôle d'un tuyau de refoulement du fluide polluant 4 vers l'extérieur des cuves 5, 6 de la tranche 2.It should be noted that it would be possible to achieve the same result by connecting this connecting pipe L, not to the fixed pipe t of reduced length, but to the fixed pipe T of great length. Indeed, in this case, the pipe t would act as a seawater introduction pipe 29 with hydrostatic pressure, and the pipe T would act as a discharge pipe of the pollutant fluid 4 to the outside of the vats 5, 6 of Unit 2.

De manière à accélérer la récupération du fluide polluant 4, il doit être également bien compris que si plusieurs compartiments 3 sont accessibles depuis l'extérieur du navire 1, il est alors possible de relier l'un des deux tuyaux fixes t ou T de chacun de ces compartiments 3 à un tuyau de liaison L distinct, le tuyau fixe T ou t restant libre étant alors destiné à assurer l'introduction de l'eau de mer 29 à pression hydrostatique à l'intérieur de la tranche 2 qui lui correspond.In order to accelerate the recovery of the polluting fluid 4, it must also be understood that if several compartments 3 are accessible from outside the vessel 1, it is then possible to connect one of the two fixed pipes t or T of each of these compartments 3 to a separate connecting pipe L, the fixed pipe T or t remaining free being then intended to ensure the introduction of seawater 29 with hydrostatic pressure inside the slice 2 corresponding thereto.

Par ailleurs, par exemple dans le cas où deux compartiments 3 d'une tranche 2 sont accessibles depuis l'extérieur du navire 1, il est possible de relier un tuyau de liaison L distinct à chacun deux tuyaux fixes t, T de l'un des deux compartiments 3, les deux tuyaux fixes t, T de l'autre compartiment 3 restant libres et étant alors destinés à permettre l'introduction de l'eau de mer 29 sous pression hydrostatique après ouverture des vannes correspondantes.Moreover, for example in the case where two compartments 3 of a slice 2 are accessible from outside the vessel 1, it is possible to connect a separate connecting pipe L to each two fixed pipes t, T of one two compartments 3, the two fixed pipes t, T of the other compartment 3 remaining free and then being intended to allow the introduction of seawater 29 under hydrostatic pressure after opening the corresponding valves.

Cependant, pour renforcer la fiabilité de l'installation, il peut être intéressant de disposer un compartiment 3 à chaque coin de cuve 5, 6, même si des vannes à guillotine 7 sont prévues pour assurer la communication entre les différentes cuves 5, 6.However, to enhance the reliability of the installation, it may be advantageous to have a compartment 3 at each bowl corner 5, 6, even if guillotine valves 7 are provided to ensure communication between the various tanks 5, 6.

Bien que l'invention ait été décrite en liaison avec des exemples particuliers de réalisation, il est bien évident qu'elle n'y est nullement limitée et qu'elle comprend tous les équivalents techniques des moyens décrits ainsi que leurs combinaisons si celles-ci entrent dans le cadre de l'invention.Although the invention has been described in connection with particular embodiments, it is obvious that it is not limited thereto and that it comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they are within the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

  1. Installation for recovering a polluting fluid (4) contained in at least one transverse block (2) of tanks in a sunken ship, the said installation comprising means for introducing pressurised water into said block and means for forcing back the polluting fluid to the outside of the block, it being possible to connect at least one linking pipe (L) coming from a relief ship (30) to one of said forcing-back means, characterised in that said installation comprises a plurality of fixed pipes (t, T) each having a first and a second end (8, 9, 12, 13), the said fixed pipes being positioned in such a way that their first ends (8, 12) open out at least at each of the corners of the ends of the block and that their second ends (9, 13) are each linked to a valve (10, 14) which, on the one hand, is housed in a compartment (3) fixed above the water-line of the sunken ship and, on the other hand, can be controlled from outside said sunken ship, it being possible for each of the said fixed pipes to constitute, according to the grounded position of the sunken ship, a means of introducing pressurised water to the inside of the block or a means of forcing back the polluting fluid to the outside of said block.
  2. Installation according to claim 1, characterised in that each compartment (3) containing valves (10, 14) is fixed onto the deck of the sunken ship (1).
  3. Installation according to either of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that a pair of fixed pipes (t, T) is connected to each compartment (3) containing two valves (10, 14) .
  4. Installation according to claim 3, characterised in that each pair of fixed pipes comprises, on the one hand, a first fixed pipe (t) of short length which opens out at the top part of the block (2) and, on the other hand, a second fixed pipe (T) which opens out at the bottom part of the block and possesses a length which is greater than the height of the tanks (5, 6).
  5. Installation according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that four distinct compartments (3) containing valves (10, 14) are associated with each transverse block (2) of tanks.
  6. Installation according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that each transverse block (2) of tanks can be divided up into a number of tanks (5, 6) which are capable of communicating with one another after valves (7) provided in walls separating the said tanks have been opened.
  7. Installation according to claim 6, characterised in that the valves (7) are positioned at the bottom part and at the top part of each of the walls separating the tanks (5, 6) belonging to a block (7).
  8. Installation according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that each valve (7, 10, 14) is a guillotine-type valve.
  9. Installation according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that a first end (8, 12) of a fixed pipe (t, T) opens into each of the corners of each tank (5, 6).
  10. Installation according to claim 9, characterised in that each tank (5, 6) is separated from an adjacent tank by a bulkhead (40), and in that the said separating bulkhead has passing through it, in the vicinity of each of its corners, a union (41) onto which is added a weighted flap (42) which is capable of stopping-up or unstopping the cross-section of passage of the said union, according to the positioning of the ship.
EP03815411A 2003-01-03 2003-12-16 Installation for the recovery of a polluting fluid contained in at least one transverse section of the tanks of a sunken vessel Expired - Lifetime EP1578661B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0300044A FR2849640B1 (en) 2003-01-03 2003-01-03 INSTALLATION FOR RECOVERING A POLLUTANT FLUID CONTAINED IN AT LEAST ONE TRANSVERSAL VESSEL TRENCH OF A CAST VESSEL
FR0300044 2003-01-03
PCT/FR2003/003742 WO2004065205A1 (en) 2003-01-03 2003-12-16 Installation for the recovery of a polluting fluid contained in at least one transverse section of the tanks of a sunken vessel

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1578661A1 EP1578661A1 (en) 2005-09-28
EP1578661B1 true EP1578661B1 (en) 2008-01-23

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EP03815411A Expired - Lifetime EP1578661B1 (en) 2003-01-03 2003-12-16 Installation for the recovery of a polluting fluid contained in at least one transverse section of the tanks of a sunken vessel

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US (1) US20060245845A1 (en)
EP (1) EP1578661B1 (en)
JP (1) JP4153913B2 (en)
KR (1) KR100932312B1 (en)
CN (1) CN1735532A (en)
AR (1) AR042684A1 (en)
AT (1) ATE384660T1 (en)
AU (1) AU2003300624A1 (en)
BR (1) BR0317918B1 (en)
CA (1) CA2511801A1 (en)
DE (1) DE60318901D1 (en)
EA (1) EA007211B1 (en)
EG (1) EG23657A (en)
FR (1) FR2849640B1 (en)
HR (1) HRP20031082B1 (en)
NO (1) NO336153B1 (en)
PA (1) PA8593801A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2004065205A1 (en)
ZA (1) ZA200505185B (en)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2869012B1 (en) * 2004-04-16 2007-08-31 Jlmd Ecologic Group Sa INSTALLATION FOR RECOVERING A POLLUTANT FLUID CONTAINED IN THE VESSELS OF A VESSEL
FR2878225B1 (en) * 2004-11-25 2007-02-23 Jlmd Ecologic Group Sa INSTALLATION FOR RECOVERING A POLLUTANT FLUID CONTAINED IN THE TANKS OF A COLD SHIP
FR2915729B1 (en) * 2007-05-04 2009-07-10 Jlmd Ecologic Group Sarl FLOATING DEVICE SUCH AS A SHIP EQUIPPED WITH MEANS FOR RECOVERING FLUID POLLUTANT IN CASE OF LOSS, AND METHOD OF RECOVERING THIS FLUID
US8351654B2 (en) * 2009-04-28 2013-01-08 Microsoft Corporation Image processing using geodesic forests
FR2975072B1 (en) * 2011-05-13 2014-08-08 Jlmd Ecologic Group METHOD FOR DISCHARGING LIQUID FROM A TANK OF A DISASTER VESSEL
US10541897B2 (en) 2017-05-16 2020-01-21 Western Digital Technologies, Inc. Mismatch compensation at differential signal receiver

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US2363488A (en) * 1940-01-01 1944-11-28 Bartlett Reginald Frank Means for raising or lifting sunken or partially sunken vessels
US2336148A (en) * 1942-03-30 1943-12-07 Carl M Zoll Apparatus for salvaging ships
US3890796A (en) * 1972-03-03 1975-06-24 Said Vincent E Rossitto By Sai Method for removing liquid contaminants from a submerged tank
GB1405175A (en) * 1972-03-24 1975-09-03 Salvage Oil Systems Ltd Apparatus for use in salvaging fluid and fluidisable substances from sunken ships
FR2380968A2 (en) * 1976-12-13 1978-09-15 Inst Francais Du Petrole Recovery of products esp. oil unsuitable for pumping - by injecting hot water and extracting products with the aqueous phase
FR2373470A1 (en) * 1976-12-13 1978-07-07 Inst Francais Du Petrole Recovery of products esp. oil unsuitable for pumping - by injecting hot water and extracting products with the aqueous phase
FR2677635B1 (en) * 1991-06-14 1993-09-03 Inst Francais Du Petrole METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING PRODUCTS CONTAINED IN UNDERWATER TANKS FROM THESE TANKS TO THE SURFACE.
US5795103A (en) * 1996-02-26 1998-08-18 Gaerlan; Doroteo C. Oil tanker and method for recovering oil from submerged oil tanker
WO2002057131A1 (en) 2001-01-22 2002-07-25 Environment Technological Group System for recovering a fluid content from a wrecked ship

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BR0317918B1 (en) 2012-08-21
CA2511801A1 (en) 2004-08-05
EA200500892A1 (en) 2006-02-24
FR2849640A1 (en) 2004-07-09
WO2004065205A1 (en) 2004-08-05
AU2003300624A2 (en) 2004-08-13
NO20053718D0 (en) 2005-08-02
AU2003300624A1 (en) 2004-08-13
ATE384660T1 (en) 2008-02-15
EA007211B1 (en) 2006-08-25
JP2006512253A (en) 2006-04-13
HRP20031082A2 (en) 2005-02-28
ZA200505185B (en) 2006-04-26
US20060245845A1 (en) 2006-11-02
FR2849640B1 (en) 2005-03-04
EP1578661A1 (en) 2005-09-28
AR042684A1 (en) 2005-06-29
CN1735532A (en) 2006-02-15
PA8593801A1 (en) 2005-03-28
NO336153B1 (en) 2015-05-26
JP4153913B2 (en) 2008-09-24
DE60318901D1 (en) 2008-03-13
BR0317918A (en) 2005-11-29
EG23657A (en) 2007-03-26
KR100932312B1 (en) 2009-12-16
HRP20031082B1 (en) 2010-02-28
KR20050092729A (en) 2005-09-22
NO20053718L (en) 2005-09-30

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