Largest pipe-legged liftboat nears delivery

DECEMBER 11, 2014—Delivery of the Teras Conquest 7—what is believed to be the world’s largest pipe-legged liftboat—is expected before year’s end, according to naval architect and marine engineering firm A.K. Suda, Metairie, LA. It is the first of three such vessels under construction. The Teras Conquest 7 is owned by Teras Offshore, a subsidiary of Ezion Holdings Ltd., Singapore.

“Liftboats are getting larger and more sophisticated,” says A.K. Suda Ltd. CEO Ajay Suda. “We are at the forefront, having designed the top three largest liftboats in the world.” Suda points out that the liftboats offer a cost effective solution and have gained attention in the Middle East and Far East oil and gas market. He says that the larger liftboats such as the SUDA 450-L3T “can easily be morphed into rigs at significantly less cost than traditional designs.”

The completion of the design for the 335 ft pipe-legged liftboat follows the delivery of the world’s largest liftboat, the SUDA 450-L3T, delivered earlier this year.

The newest vessel is a three-legged, self-propelled, self-elevating general service liftboat designated as the SUDA 335-LP.It is ABS classed with Unrestricted Service, +A1, +AMS, E, DPS 1 Accommodation Service, Wind Farm Installation Maintenance and Repair Certification. The hull dimensions are 194 ft x 131 ft x 16 ft.  It is outfitted with two 250-ton cranes and has accommodations for 160 persons, including crew.

Besides the SUDA 335-L3P hulls under construction, other A.K. Suda designs being built include a SUDA 335-L3T (a three-truss version), a SUDA 320-L4T, (a 320 Class four-legged truss design) and a SUDA 300-L4T (a 300 Class four-legged truss design).