Pipe Leg Liftboat Design Completed

U.S.-based A. K. Suda has successfully completed the design of a 335 ft (102.5m) pipe-legged liftboat. The vessel, claimed to be the world’s largest of its kind, is being delivered to its owners this year, and it follows the SUDA 450-L3T, delivered earlier this year.

According to the firm’s CEO, Ajay Suda, “Liftboats are getting larger and more sophisticated. We are at the forefront, having designed the top three largest liftboats in the world.”

The latest vessel is a 3-legged, self-propelled, self-elevating, general service liftboat, known as the SUDA 335-L3P. It is ABS classed with Unrestricted Service, A-1, AMS, DPS 1 Accommodation Service, Wind Farm Installation Maintenance and Repair Certification. The hull dimensions are 194 ft x 131 ft x 16 ft (59m x 40m x 5m). It has two leg encircling cranes of 250t each, with a maximum reach of 129 ft (39m). The vessel can accommodate 160 persons including crew.

With its long legs, this self-elevating unit is capable of working in water depths up to 262 ft (80 m). It also has a CAP 437 heliport, capable of supporting Sikorsky helicopter models S-61N & S-92A. 

The liftboat is the first of a series of this design to be delivered. Two additional vessels are currently under construction. There has been a large increase in demand for liftboats in recent years, with many owners and charterers not being able to wait out the time frame that it takes to have the vessels built, says Suda. 

“Our designs have evoked a lot of interest in the Middle East and Far East. When you can get more cost effective solutions than what has been available, why would you not be interested?” says Suda. “The larger vessels of our designs like the SUDA 450-L3T can easily be morphed into rigs at significantly less cost than the traditional designs. We are excited at the tremendous opportunity to usher in a new generation of jackup rigs. The industry has not seen new concepts in rig design for a long time.” 

In addition to the SUDA 335-L3P hulls, there is a three truss legged version under construction, the SUDA 335-L3T. Some other new models already under construction are a 320 ft 4-legged truss design (SUDA 320-L4T) and a 300 ft 4-legged truss design (SUDA 300-L4T).