Product tanker
Product tankers, or oil tankers, are used to transport all
kinds of liquids around the world. Their holds are closed
and they are filled through a manifold on deck. A manifold
is a piping system that uses valves to redirect the material
flow to the desired destination.
Advantages
• Product tankers are designed to withstand naval
environments, so they are suited for the conditions at
the preliminary location in the North Pacific Ocean.
• The manifold on deck enables transshipment without
having to reattach the transshipment hoses or pipes to
fill different cargo holds.
Disad vantages
• Plastic needs to be mixed with a liquid (water) to
create a slurry that can be pumped. This implies extra
volume displacement and therefore higher energy
consumption. It also limits the possibilities for transshipment.
Depending on the size of the transport
vessel, it might be required to dewater this slurry on
the vessel.