Liftboat
Encyclopedia
The first liftboat was designed in 1955 by brothers Lynn and Orin dean in Violet, Louisiana. In 1950 the Dean brothers owned a repair service for automobiles, marine, and farm equipment called Universal Repair Service which is now known as EBI, Elevating Boats LLC. EBI, Elevating Boats LLC, operates 30 liftboats that service the shallow water Oil & Gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico from their liftboat dock in Houma, Louisiana..
If registered to the United States, liftboats structures and their machinery are covered under Title 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations
Title 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations
Title 46 is the portion of the Code of Federal Regulations that governs shipping within the United States for the United States Coast Guard, the United States Maritime Administration, and the United States Maritime Commission...
. Liftboats are usually outfitted with at least one crane; marine cranes are usually designed to API specification 2C or the equivalent classification society
Classification society
A classification society is a non-governmental organization that establishes and maintains technical standards for the construction and operation of ships and offshore structures...
guidelines.
Liftboats are commonly used to perform maintenance on oil and gas well platforms. The liftboat usually moves on location on a side of the platform where no obstructions or pipelines
Pipeline transport
Pipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. Most commonly, liquids and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes that transport solid capsules using compressed air are also used....
are observed, lowers its legs and jacks up out of the water. Because the pads of the liftboat are setting on a muddy, unstable seafloor, most liftboats practice a safety measure called a preload, where the boat jacks up a few feet out of the water, fills its holds with water for weight and allows the boat to settle in the mud for several hours before dumping the water and jacking up to work height.
If the mud of the seafloor gives way under the liftboat, it can fall into the water and put the lives of the crew in danger. A complete site survey prior to moving on location is an important safety measure to ensure that all seafloor features (canholes, pipelines, etc.) are known before choosing a final location.
Levingston 320E
Levingston Offshore delivered the third 320E, the world's largest liftboat, in February 2011 to a major Singaporean offshore operator.Semco 320-L3
Designed by the naval architecture and marine engineering firm of A. K. Suda, Inc., based in Metairie, Louisiana, and built by SEMCO, LLC in Lafitte, LouisianaLafitte, Louisiana
Lafitte is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,576 at the 2000 census. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, the Semco 320-L3 will be the world's largest liftboat when delivered in December of 2010. The jacking system, electrical and automation design have been done by SEMCO.
Dixie Patriot
Built by SEMCO, LLC. in Lafitte, LouisianaLafitte, Louisiana
Lafitte is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,576 at the 2000 census. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, the Dixie Patriot is the largest liftboat ever built. Capable of working in depths up to 200 feet (61 m), it is outfitted with 11000 square feet (1,021.9 m²) of usable deck area and two Seatrax 200-ton capacity cranes. It is so large that it has a helipad for crew changes and equipment shipments, virtually unheard of on liftboats.