The Versabuoy system evolved from a study of the installation of single piece 20,000 ton topsides onto spar hulls offshore West Africa using the Versatruss Deck Installation System. The Versatruss lift booms are supported on the centerline of standard deck transport barges with pin supports that allow the barges to roll relative to the booms and hence deck (one degree of freedom decoupled).
During the installation study the motions of the topside supported by the Versatruss system during the various phases of the operation were evaluated. An optimization cycle considered the replacement of the standard deck transport barges supporting the Versatruss booms with 4 small cylindrical spar-type buoys now each supporting a single boom set, with the objective of further reducing deck motions during installation. In order for this configuration to work it was necessary to introduce an additional release between the spar hull and buoy to decouple the hull pitch and roll motions from the booms using an articulating connection. Multi-body motions analysis for this configuration showed a dramatic improvement in installation system and topsides motions, such an improvement that the motions of the topside on the installation system were equal to or better than the completed structure. The Versabuoy system had arrived.

Versatruss Deck Installation System
Installing 6,000 ton Integrated and Fully Commissioned Topsides
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