Method and apparatus for reducing the draft and increasing the load bearing area and stability of marine drilling barges

摘要

An apparatus for reducing the draft and increasing the load bearing area and stability of a Marine drilling barge may be temporarily or permanently mounted to the barge. The apparatus includes twin parallel hulls separated by and connected to a tension resistant truss, a support frame mounted to the twin parallel hulls, compression resistant members connected to the support frame that span between the parallel hulls, and pumps to remove water ballast from the hulls so that the apparatus can be raised and lowered in the water. The apparatus is submerged, the barge to be modified is then situated between the submerged apparatus hulls, the ballast is then removed from the submerged hulls to emerge the apparatus and lift the barge. When connected to the barge the apparatus provides a reduction in barge draft. The apparatus and barge may then be moved in combination and submerged together as a single unit. When submerged the apparatus provides additional bottom load bearing surface area and stability.