From Lift Boats to Jack-Ups to Self-Propelled Self-Elavating Platforms Available to Purchase

There is an increasing global demand for offshore operations to meet challenges like capacity, capabilities, safety and uptime, which starts by working from a stable, safe and solid platform. For the mobile applications in shallow waters terminology like lift boats, jack-up vessels, self-elevating support vessels has been used. For contractors or owners all the definitions look the same and the differences between all designs is difficult to comprehend. The same goes for the end-users (like: NOC's, IOC's and EPC's) to understand the differences of what they are offered for their requirements related to their offshore. This paper will discuss the challenges faced by contractors and end-users and which technological advances have been made to provide safe, stable and solid mobile self-elevating platforms.