Cargo vessels

Claim 2

A cargo vessel having a plurality of holds separated by transverse bulkheads, each hold extending over the full internal width of the vessel, characterized in that there is a central strength member which runs longitudinally of the vessel and which divides only the upper portion of the holds into two side by side parts, at least one of such holds being served by two upper deck hatches which are located on opposite sides of said central strength member, said upper deck hatches together being substantially co-extensive with the horizontal area of such hold, and there being in each upper part of such hold a fully collapsible between-deck composed of panels which are hingeable into substantially vertical planes adjacent boundaries of said upper hold part so that when the said between-decks in such hold are collapsed, substantially the entire hold is accessible to bulk cargo released through said upper deck hatches.

Claim 3

A cargo vessel according to claim 1, characterized in that said central strength member is a hollow structure serving as a tunnel or passageway for personnel.

Claim 4

In a cargo vessel having a plurality of holds separated by transverse bulkheads, and each hold extending over the full internal width of the vessel, the improvements comprising; a central strength member which runs longitudinally of the vessel and which divides only upper portions of the holds into two side by side parts, said central strength member being a hollow structure serving as a tunnel or passageway for personnel; at least one of said holds being served by two upper deck hatches which are located on opposite sides of said central strength member and which are together substantially co-extensive with the horizontal area of such hold, and a fully collapsible between-deck contained in the upper parts of said at least one hold, said between-deck having (a) two side panels which meet when in an operative position to form a part of a closed deck, one of such side panels being hinged to an outer vertical boundary wall of an upper part of the hold so as to be hingeable into a substantially vertical plane against such outer boundary wall, and the other of said side panels being hinged to said central longitudinal strength member so as to be hingeable into a substantially vertical plane against the central strength member, and (b) two accordion panels which are located at opposite ends of said side panels and which are hinged to opposed transverse bulkheads so as to be movable into substantially vertical planes against said opposed transverse bulkheads and which can be moved into a horizontal plane to complete a closed deck with said side panels.

Claim 5

In a cargo vessel having a plurality of holds separated by transverse bulkheads, and each hold extending over the full internal width of the vessel, the improvements comprising; a central strength member which runs longitudinally of the vessel and which divides only upper portions of the holds into two side by side parts, said central strength member being a hollow structure serving as a tunnel or passageway for personnel; at least one of said holds being served by two upper deck hatches which are located on opposite sides of said central strength member and which are together substantially co-extensive with the horizontal area of such hold, and a fully collapsible between-deck contained in the upper parts of said at least one hold, said between-deck having (a) two side panels which meet when in an operative position to form a part of a closed deck, one of such side panels being hinged to an outer vertical boundary wall of an upper part of the hold so as to be hingeable into a substantially vertical plane against such outer boundary wall, and the other of said side panels being hinged to said central longitudinal strength member so as to be hingeable into a substantially vertical plane against the central strength member, and (b) two accordion panels which are located at opposite ends of said side panels and which are hinged to opposed transverse bulkheads so as to be movable into substantially vertical planes against said opposed transverse bulkheads and which can be moved into a horizontal plane to complete a closed deck with said side panels.

Claim 6

A cargo vessel according to claim 3, wherein said accordion panels are supported by marginal rails when in their operative positions and wherein said side panels hinge into operative positions in which their end margins are supported by adjacent free margins of the accordion panels.