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.

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.

A watercraft with a rigid outer hull having a substantially circular shape in plan view and a rounded bottom surface for contacting a body of liquid, and a rigid top surface disposed opposite said bottom surface and integrally formed with the outer hull, the top surface having an annular stability portion with convex walls in cross-section and a recessed flat-bottomed deck portion adapted to receive a person, and an edge of the recessed deck portion being disposed inwardly from an outermost edge of the top portion by a distance, and a method for using same.

A deep-drawn, marine hull having a sandwich structure and watercraft utilizing same are provided. The hull includes an outer skin having a waterproof outer surface, an inner skin having a compartment-defining outer surface and a shock absorbing, cellular core positioned between the skins. The skins are bonded to the core by press molding. The cellular core has a 2-D array of cells, each of the cells having an axis substantially perpendicular to the outer surfaces. Thickness of side walls of the hull is substantially uniform to maximize stiffness of the hull. The cells absorb energy of an impact at the outer surface of the outer skin by deformably crushing. Air trapped within cells which are not completely crushed or punctured by the impact provide the hull with buoyancy to allow the hull to float at the surface of a body of water.

A watercraft with a rigid outer hull having a substantially circular shape in plan view and a rounded bottom surface for contacting a body of liquid, and a rigid top surface disposed opposite said bottom surface and integrally formed with the outer hull, the top surface having an annular stability portion with convex walls in cross-section and a recessed flat-bottomed deck portion adapted to receive a person, and an edge of the recessed deck portion being disposed inwardly from an outermost edge of the top portion by a distance, and a method for using same.

A watercraft with a rigid outer hull having a substantially circular shape in plan view and a rounded bottom surface for contacting a body of liquid, and a rigid top surface disposed opposite said bottom surface and integrally formed with the outer hull, the top surface having an annular stability portion with convex walls in cross -section and a recessed flat-bottomed deck portion adapted to receive a person, and an edge of the recessed deck portion being disposed inwardly from an outermost edge of the top portion by a distance, and a method for using same.

A watercraft with a rigid outer hull having a substantially circular shape in plan view and a rounded bottom surface for contacting a body of liquid, and a rigid top surface disposed opposite said bottom surface and integrally formed with the outer hull, the top surface having an annular stability portion with convex walls in cross -section and a recessed flat-bottomed deck portion adapted to receive a person, and an edge of the recessed deck portion being disposed inwardly from an outermost edge of the top portion by a distance, and a method for using same.

A deep-drawn, marine hull having a sandwich structure with a cellulose-based core and watercraft utilizing same are provided. The hull includes an outer skin of a fiber-based thermoplastic and having a waterproof outer surface, a first sheet of thermoplastic adhesive, an inner skin of a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material and having a compartment-defining outer surface, a second sheet of thermoplastic adhesive and a shock absorbing, cellular core of a cellulose-based material and positioned between the skins The skins are bonded to the core by the first and second sheets and by press molding. Cells of the cellular core absorb energy of an impact at the outer surface of the outer skin by deformably crushing. Air trapped within cells which are not completely crushed or punctured by the impact provide the hull with buoyancy to allow the hull to float at the surface of a body of water.