Method for conversion of a vessel for use as floating liquefied natural gas facility

1. A method for conversion of a floating vessel having internal cargo holds, which comprise:

a) forming a plurality of deck sections;

b) removing the plurality of deck sections from the vessel;

c) removing a deck from each of the plurality of deck sections;

d) rotating each of the plurality of deck sections 180 degrees in vertical plane;

e) removing each lateral support member from each of the plurality of deck sections;

f) attaching a new deck to each of the plurality of deck sections, each new deck having a tank dome opening therethrough;

g) attaching a new support member to each of the plurality of deck sections;

h) attaching an internal second hull to a lower hull side of the vessel;

i) positioning a tank in each of the internal cargo holds, each tank having an upper tank section;

j) rotating further each of the plurality of deck sections 180 degrees in the vertical plane; and

k) attaching each deck section to the vessel, wherein each tank dome opening is aligned with the upper tank section.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vessel is a Very Large Ore Carrier.

3. The method of claim further comprising the steps of:

dry docking the vessel,

cleaning the deck,

removing a hatch coaming from each of the plurality of deck sections prior to rotating each of the plurality of deck sections 180 degrees in a vertical plane; and

attaching a new hatch coaming about each tank dome opening.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tank is an independent Type-B prismatic liquefied natural gas tank.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the plurality of deck sections comprises:

dividing each of the two hull sides of the vessel below a connection of each longitudinal support member to a respective one of the two hull sides into an upper hull side shell and a lower hull side;

dividing a cargo hold inner wall below the connection of one of the plurality of longitudinal support members to one of the hull sides into a cargo hold upper inner wall and a cargo hold lower inner wall; and

dividing each upper hull side shell at each of the cargo hold upper inner walls; and

dividing the deck at each of the cargo hold upper inner walls.

6. The method claim 1 , wherein the deck above each internal cargo hold further includes at least one opening therethrough for communication with the internal cargo hold.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching a new support member to each of the plurality of deck sections further comprises:

attaching the new support member to the new deck; and

attaching the new support member to each of the longitudinal support members for strengthening the deck section.

8. A method for conversion of a floating vessel having an internal cargo hold, which comprises:

a) forming a deck section above the internal cargo hold;

b) removing the deck section from the vessel;

c) removing a deck from the deck section;

d) rotating the deck section 180 degrees in a vertical plane;

e) attaching a new deck to the deck section, the new deck having a tank dome opening therethrough;

f) attaching a new support member to the deck section;

g) attaching an internal second hull to a lower hull side of the vessel;

h) positioning a tank in the internal cargo hold, the tank having an upper tank section;

i) further rotating the deck section 180 degrees in the vertical plane; and

j) attaching the deck section to the vessel, wherein the tank dome opening is aligned with the upper tank section.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the vessel is a Very Large Ore Carrier.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:

dry docking the vessel,

cleaning the deck,

removing a hatch coaming from the deck section prior to rotating the deck section 180 degrees in a vertical plane; and

attaching a new hatch coaming about the tank dome opening.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the tank is an independent Type-B prismatic liquefied natural gas tank.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein forming the deck section comprises:

dividing each of the two hull sides of the vessel below a connection of each longitudinal support member to a respective one of the two hull sides into an upper hull side shell and a lower hull side;

dividing a cargo hold inner wall below the connection of one of the plurality of longitudinal support members to one of the hull sides into a cargo hold upper inner wall and a cargo hold lower inner wall;

dividing each upper hull side shell at a cargo hold upper inner wall adjacent the internal cargo hold; and

dividing the deck at the cargo hold upper inner wall adjacent the internal cargo hold.

13. The method claim 8 , wherein the deck above the internal cargo hold further includes an opening therethrough for communication with the internal cargo hold.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein attaching a new support member to the deck section further comprises:

attaching the new support member to the new deck; and

attaching the new support member to each of the longitudinal support members for strengthening the deck section.