| 摘要 |
A transportation method and barge-carrying water-borne vessel therefor having a hull with rigid supporting and hull-reinforcing structure, a bow, a stern, and side walls providing a series of buoyancy compartments. The hull has a hollow interior defining at least one hold extending most of the length of said vessel. The bottom of the hold is always below the level of the sea. Water can be placed from the sea into the hold and can be pumped out from it. A gate at one end of the vessel is opened for flotation loading of the hold, when the hold is partially flooded, with buoyant cargo carriers such as barges, lighters and pontoons. Each such carrier may be held down against the bottom of the hold. A collision bulkhead located adjacent the gate enables closing the hold off in a watertight manner, and this collision bulkhead can be opened to enable the flotation loading and unloading. |
