摘要 |
A double-hull tanker having one or more cargo tanks is structured so as to have compartments surrounding each cargo tank in the form of between inner and outer hulls, and possibly between cargo tanks. These surrounding compartments are normally empty when the tanker is carrying a cargo of oil, or a similar largely water immiscible, lighter-than-water flowable liquid cargo. The volume of the cargo tank or tanks above a level equal to 111 percent of the assigned draft (Vc) of the vessel, is less than the volume of that cargo tank's surrounding compartments below that same level (Va). Because the hydrostatic equilibrium level for typical specific gravity ranges of crude oil and seawater is at least 111 percent of a vessel's maximum allowable operating draft, the compartments provide sufficient volume to contain all oil which might leak from a cargo tank during grounding damage.
|