| 摘要 |
An improved method and apparatus for venting hydrocarbon gases from the cargo compartments of a tanker vessel for the transportation of oil in water, which tanker vessel includes a hull comprising a bottom and sides, a top deck, a plurality of watertight cargo compartments disposed in the hull between the top deck and the hull bottom for receiving the oil, and vent means coupled to each of the cargo compartments and communicative externally of the compartments for venting hydrocarbon gases to and from the cargo compartments and the atmosphere during loading, discharge and transfer of oil and ballast from the compartments. In an apparatus according to the invention, the improvement comprises valve means, coupled to and communicative with at least two of the cargo compartments and disposed at the top of the compartments, which interconnects the two cargo compartments for venting hydrocarbon gases from one of the two compartments to the other of the compartments after discharge of oil from the one of the compartments. In a method according to the invention, the valve means coupled to one of the cargo compartments from which oil is to be discharged is opened subsequent to discharging oil from the compartment so as to operatively interconnect the compartment with another, empty compartment in the tanker vessel. The vent means of both compartments are then closed so as to render the compartments non-communicative to the atmosphere. The emptied cargo compartment is then filled with a liquid so as to expel the hydrocarbon gases from the compartment and vent the gases to the other of the cargo compartments through the valve means.
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