Compact Double Hull
Inland waterway transportation is one of the safest and most efficient ways of moving goods and people. But if you’re a tugboat, towboat or barge owner, you know that managing puncture resistance, cargo capacity, and maintenance is a complex and expensive balancing act.
An SPS Compact Double Hull (CDH) — which features two steel plates bonded together with an elastomer core — delivers a faster, less disruptive and more cost-effective conversion, ensuring your vessel meets stringent regulatory standards without lengthy downtime.
Why convert from Single-Hull to Double-Hull?
Legislation requires single-hull inland waterway tankers to be phased out (retired, replaced or converted by double-hull vessels). Standard options for compliance include scrapping and rebuilding a new vessel or converting an existing single-hull vessel to a double-hull vessel.
The Problem with Conventional Double Hulls
While traditional double-hull conversions are the most common route, they also come with major drawbacks, namely:
- They carry less cargo
- They have a harmful impact on economics and safety
- Are costly to build and maintain compared to single-hulls due to higher Capex and Opex
- They reduce cargo capacity by up to 40%. Reduced capacity leads to an increased number of barges
- They have higher operating costs, including increased inspection and maintenance requirements
- They require a deeper draft (capacity is a function of weight, including buoyancy)
- Require an increase in intersecting steel pieces prone to crack propagation, fracture and rupture at stress concentrations
Not to mention that the performance of double-hull barges during grounding is unclear. Even double-hulled tankers can be ruptured in a collision or grounding event. Therefore, the vessel operator must develop maintenance procedures to ensure safety and mitigate risk. SPS Compact Double Hull changes that.
SPS Compact Double Hulls
Non-disruptive reinforcement with a Compact Double Hull made from Sandwich Plate System offers unique benefits. An SPS Compact Double Hull:
- Provides equivalent or better impact protection against collision and grounding events
- Is faster and more cost-effective than conventional double hull conversion
- Is a proven technology used in offshore applications for side shell protection against collisions
- Meets or exceeds MARPOL requirements, approved by Class and Flag states
- Provides enhanced puncture resistance
- Is better for cargo capacity
- Means no changes to the cargo handling system
- Means less inspection and maintenance required
The SPS CDH conversion cost for a typical tank barge is ~ 60%, and the typical SPS CDH conversion time is approx.14 days!
Maritime Sustainability with SPS Compact Double Hulls
A noteworthy aspect of an SPS Compact Double Hull is that the impact resistance of SPS reduces environmental risk, a crucial factor when considering inland waterway transportation.
Don’t settle for outdated conversions. If you’re ready to upgrade your vessel with our smarter, safer compact double hull solution, speak to a member of the SPS Technology team today.
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