METHOD OF TRANSPORTING AND DISPOSING OF AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM JACKET
A method is disclosed for disposing of an offshore platform jacket (8) by suspending the jacket in one piece under a tow vessel (10), towing it to the disposal site and releasing the jacket at the disposal site. Once the jacket foundation piles have been severed, the first end of the jacket (8) is lifted using a derrick barge crane or winch (31) connected to a first lift rigging means (20) until the first lift rigging means engages with a first release means (12). The second end is lifted in a similar manner. The lift rigging means include a spreader bar (22) having at least one skid shoe (24) attached thereto, at least two padeyes (23) attached at opposite ends of the spreader bar (22), a lift sling (28) attached to the padeyes and at least two jacket support slings (21). Each release means is attached to the vessel (10) and includes at least one rocker beam (14) with a connector (16) being disengaged for allowing each rocker beam (14) to pivot and the jacket to be released at the disposal site.