METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPEDING THE SPILLAGE OF A LIQUID CARGO FROM A DAMAGED WATER-TRAVELING VESSEL
An assembly for impeding the spillage of petroleum from a damaged oil tanker includes one or more barrier members (10) at least partially made of permeable fabric material (12) provided with reinforcing ribs (14) in the shapes of triangles of two sizes. Triangles of a large size (16) are surrounded by triangles of a small size (18) such that two small triangles (18) are disposed along each side or edge of a large triangle (16). The small triangles (18) thus have a side length approximately one half of the side length of the large triangles (16). The ribs (14) are made of synthetic resin which permeates the fabric material (12). The barrier member (10) material is also utilizable, particularly if coated, for a collapsible temporary storage bag (66) which may be inflated in an emergency and pumped full of petroleum from a perforated storage compartment of a damaged tanker.