Global Industries Offshore increased its offshore construction support capabilities in June with the christening of the class 190 liftboat Swordfish. The vessel was built for Global this year to support pipeline and platform construction, diving, coiled tubing, and wireline operations to 155 ft. (47.2 m) of water in the Gulf of Mexico.
Liftboats are self-propelled vessels with "jackup rig" design. Once on location, they hydraulically lower their legs to the seafloor and raise their work platforms above any wave action. Their large open deck area provides a stable work platform to support equipment and perform a variety of construction services. Liftboats are also equipped with cranes, living quarters, and heliports.
The 113-ft. (34.4 m) long Swordfish features a maximum deck load capacity of 700,000-lbs., maximum crane capacity of 100 tons, and 4,000-sq. ft. deck area for equipment and operations. The vessel was built for Global by Marine Industrial Fabricators and Conrad Shipyard in New Iberia, La.