5.

9 Semisubmersible Barges
While the standard barge, whether serving for cargo transport or as support for a crane
or
other operational equipment, has good stability and load displacement characteristics,
unfortunately it has excessive response to the wind-driven waves and swell. These then
limit the workability of the vessel.
In areas such as Bass Strait, Australia, and the northern North Sea, where the persistence
of low-sea states is short, a conventional barge may encounter excessive weather
downtime,
which may extend the construction schedule beyond the summer weather
window and thus require an extra year for completion.
The semisubmersible concept was first developed for offshore exploratory drilling but
has since been extended to both derrick barges and pipe-laying barges. It is a simple
concept: a large-base pontoon or pontoons that are fully submerged during operations,
supporting four to eight columns that extend through the water plane and in turn support
the deck. Thus there is a large submerged mass and large displacement combined with
minimum water plane. The vessel is therefore subject to minimum exciting and righting
moments. Some have referred to the concept as transparent because the waves sweep
right through between the columns or shafts, with little effect on the barge motion
(Figure 5.15 and Figure 5.16).
Deck
Shaft
(columns)
Pontoon