A containment vessel bladder for retaining material to be stored within a containment vessel. The bladder comprises a flexible enclosure and a drain facilitating element. The enclosure has a sealed interior, a floor portion connected to an enclosed top by one or more wall portions, and an opening for the delivery of material to the sealed interior. The drain facilitating element is positioned on the floor portion the enclosure and is expandable from a deflated position to an expanded position. When deflated the drain facilitating element is foldable with the enclosure to facilitate storage and transport of the containment vessel bladder. When expanded the drain facilitating element has one or more sloped surfaces aiding in the direction of material stored within the sealed interior toward a pre-determined location within the sealed interior to help facilitate the removal of material from the containment vessel bladder.

Apparatus and method for managing water or other ballast fluid in an underwater storage tank (14), used for storing fluids such as oil or CO2, where a dis-connectable inflatable bag (16) is coupled to the underwater storage tank to capture displaced ballast fluid from the underwater storage tank. A supply line (36) between the bag and tank provides a closed loop system. Embodiments are shown in which the tank is initially filled with fresh water and multiple dis-connectable inflatable bags are used.

Apparatus and method for managing water or other ballast fluid in an underwater storage tank (14), used for storing fluids such as oil or CO2, where a dis-connectable inflatable bag (16) is coupled to the underwater storage tank to capture displaced ballast fluid from the underwater storage tank. A supply line (36) between the bag and tank provides a closed loop system. Embodiments are shown in which the tank is initially filled with fresh water and multiple dis-connectable inflatable bags are used.

A flexible tank is used to transport bulk liquids or semi-liquid materials inside of a multi-modal shipping container. It has water proof inner layers and an outer layer, which are formed and welded together to have seams at both ends of the flexible tank. A discharge valve is provided at one end of the flexible tank and an additional piece of material, referred to as a cape, is attached at the other end of the flexible tank. The flexible tank is situated in the container so that the end with the discharge valve is at the container opening and the end with the attached cape is at the rear of the container. The cape can be used by equipment positionable at the opening of the container to completely discharge the bulk liquids or semi-liquid materials from the flexible tank by pulling and winding up the cape and the layers of the flexible tank from the rear of the container.

A flexible tank is used to transport bulk liquids or semi-liquid materials inside of a multi-modal shipping container. It has water proof inner layers and an outer layer, which are formed and welded together to have seams at both ends of the flexible tank. A discharge valve is provided at one end of the flexible tank and an additional piece of material, referred to as a cape, is attached at the other end of the flexible tank. The flexible tank is situated in the container so that the end with the discharge valve is at the container opening and the end with the attached cape is at the rear of the container. The cape can be used by equipment positionable at the opening of the container to completely discharge the bulk liquids or semi-liquid materials from the flexible tank by pulling and winding up the cape and the layers of the flexible tank from the rear of the container.

An article-unloading apparatus comprising a bin assembly including a bag inside a bin. The bin assembly is raised and lowered by a lift and tilted, when raised, to dump articles onto a decline conveyor, such as a ramp. A winch attached to the bag moves the bottom of the bag through the bin to help push articles from the tilted bin assembly. A camera takes a video image of the articles entering the ramp to detect clumps. Stops on the ramp are selectively actuated to block the bottom-most articles in a clump to help separate articles.

An article-unloading apparatus comprising a bin assembly including a bag inside a bin. The bin assembly is raised and lowered by a lift and tilted, when raised, to dump articles onto a decline conveyor, such as a ramp. A winch attached to the bag moves the bottom of the bag through the bin to help push articles from the tilted bin assembly. A camera takes a video image of the articles entering the ramp to detect clumps. Stops on the ramp are selectively actuated to block the bottom-most articles in a clump to help separate articles.

A liner floor for use in a container liner is provided. The liner floor includes a floor portion arranged between a distal end and a proximal portion and the floor portion is configured for being arranged on a floor of the container. The floor portion includes a plurality of stacks of folded sections. The stacks are folded such that a top fold of one stack is connected to a bottom fold of a proximal neighbouring stack. A weight of the folded sections varies along the floor portion with each of the folded sections having at least the same weight as a proximal neighbouring folded section. Also provided are methods for unloading cargo from a container including a liner, and methods and apparatuses for loading cargo into a container.

A liner (10) includes a liner base (11) and a cradle (12) which is used in conjunction with a conventional intermediate bulk container (13). The liner base has a bottom wall (15), a top wall (16) opposite the bottom wall, and four side walls (17) extending between the bottom wall and top wall. The four side walls include a front wall (18), a rear wall (19), and two oppositely disposed end walls (20). The top wall includes a top opening fitment (22). The front wall includes a dispensing opening fitment (23). The liner lifting cradle includes a bottom panel (26), two oppositely disposed end panels (27), and a rear panel (28). The end panels have an elongated terminal end (30) which includes a reinforced mounting hole (32). The rear panel has an elongated terminal end (34) which includes a grommet (35) defining a reinforced mounting hole (36).

A liner (10) includes a liner base (11) and a cradle (12) which is used in conjunction with a conventional intermediate bulk container (13). The liner base has a bottom wall (15), a top wall (16) opposite the bottom wall, and four side walls (17) extending between the bottom wall and top wall. The four side walls include a front wall (18), a rear wall (19), and two oppositely disposed end walls (20). The top wall includes a top opening fitment (22). The front wall includes a dispensing opening fitment (23). The liner lifting cradle includes a bottom panel (26), two oppositely disposed end panels (27), and a rear panel (28). The end panels have an elongated terminal end (30) which includes a reinforced mounting hole (32). The rear panel has an elongated terminal end (34) which includes a grommet (35) defining a reinforced mounting hole (36).