New generation liftboat

A new generation liftboat with capabilities that will exceed existing craft is due to be delivered later this year to US-based Montco Offshore. The new liftboat is under construction at Bollinger Shipyards in the US and will be named Kayd. Two years ago, the shipbuilder delivered the 245ft class liftboat Myrtle to Montco and the Kayd will be similar with the main difference between the two vessels being the cranes and their increased lifting capacity.

The three cranes, all to be manufactured by Titan Industries, will include a port bow-mounted primary crane with a 110ft lattice boom rated for 175 tonnes; a starboard bow telescoping auxiliary crane rated for 40 tonnes with a boom that extends from 50ft to 70ft; and a 70ft box boom crane mounted on the starboard stern rated for 25 tonnes, allowing support vessels to offload personnel, cargo, and/or fluids without hindering other work being done by the liftboat.

Equipped with 245ft legs, the self-propelled floating platform will have the ability to work in water depths to 180ft with a 15ft air gap while lifting a total of 950 KIPS of variable load.

Like Myrtle, Kayd will be equipped with a bow thruster and CP propellers for greater maneuverability, enabling precision placement of the spud legs with oversized pads on the ocean bottom. With a very high level of manoeuvrability, the Kayd will be able to avoid contact with underwater piping, can-holes, and other rig infrastructure, and maintain jacking speed and manoeuvring to hold a precise position at the same time.

The newbuilding will be equipped with 40ft by 16ft pads, much larger than those on other liftboats, to provide for greater bottom stability and greater deck loads. It will also be able to jack with a full pre-load.