Container hopper barge with pedestal support system

Abstract

A hopper barge is disclosed. The hopper barge comprises a hopper compartment for carrying a plurality of containers, the hopper compartment comprising a hopper compartment deck. The hopper barge comprises an inner-bottom portion defined in part by the hopper compartment deck and a bottom portion of the hopper barge. A plurality of longitudinal bulkheads are arranged in parallel within the inner-bottom portion of the hopper barge. A plurality of transverse bulkheads are arranged in parallel within the inner-bottom portion of the hopper barge, the plurality of transverse bulkheads running perpendicular to the plurality of longitudinal bulkheads. A plurality of pedestal supports are affixed to the hopper compartment deck, wherein at least one of the plurality of longitudinal bulkheads intersects at least one of the plurality of transverse bulkheads at a position beneath at least one of the plurality of pedestal supports.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A hopper barge, comprising:
 an inner-bottom portion having arranged therein a plurality of longitudinal bulkheads and a plurality of transverse bulkheads, the plurality of transverse bulkheads running perpendicular to the plurality of longitudinal bulkheads; and   a plurality of pedestal supports, wherein at least one of the plurality of longitudinal bulkheads intersects at least one of the plurality of transverse bulkheads at a position beneath at least one of the plurality of pedestal supports.   
     
     
         22 . The hopper barge of  claim 21 , wherein the hopper barge comprises a hopper compartment for carrying a plurality of containers, the hopper compartment comprising a hopper compartment deck. 
     
     
         23 . The hopper barge of  claim 22 , wherein the inner-bottom portion is defined in part by the hopper compartment deck and a bottom portion of the hopper barge. 
     
     
         24 . The hopper barge of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the plurality of longitudinal bulkheads are arranged substantially in parallel within the inner-bottom portion of the hopper barge; and   the plurality of transverse bulkheads are arranged substantially in parallel within the inner-bottom portion of the hopper barge.   
     
     
         25 . The hopper barge of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of pedestal supports comprises at least one of a top plate and a bottom plate. 
     
     
         26 . The hopper barge of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of pedestal supports comprises:
 an outer pipe; and   a plurality of rib plates affixed to the outer pipe.   
     
     
         27 . The hopper barge of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of rib plates are affixed to the outer pipe by welding. 
     
     
         28 . The hopper barge of  claim 26 , wherein the outer pipe has a diameter of approximately 30 inches. 
     
     
         29 . The hopper barge of  claim 26 , wherein the outer pipe is cylinder-shaped. 
     
     
         30 . The hopper barge of  claim 26 , wherein the outer pipe is half cylinder-shaped. 
     
     
         31 . The hopper barge of  claim 26 , wherein the outer pipe is quarter cylinder-shaped. 
     
     
         32 . The hopper barge of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of pedestal supports further comprises an inner pipe disposed within the outer pipe. 
     
     
         33 . The hopper barge of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the inner pipe has a diameter of approximately 16 inches; and   the plurality of rib plates are affixed to the inner pipe by welding.   
     
     
         34 . The hopper barge of  claim 21 , wherein the hopper barge is approximately 70 feet wide. 
     
     
         35 . The hopper barge of  claim 21 , wherein the depth of the inner-bottom portion is greater than fifteen inches. 
     
     
         36 . The hopper barge of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of pedestal supports provides support for a corner of one or more containers carried in a hopper compartment of the hopper barge. 
     
     
         37 . The hopper barge of  claim 21 , wherein one or more of the plurality of longitudinal bulkheads comprise a plurality of holes arranged substantially evenly along the length of the longitudinal bulkhead. 
     
     
         38 . The hopper barge of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of longitudinal bulkheads and the plurality of transverse bulkheads are affixed to an underside of a hopper compartment deck and to a bottom portion of the hopper barge.