How it works

The Versatruss heavy lift system consists of two barges with three 70-foot, 48-in. diameter A-frame steel booms. The booms are connected to heel pins at the base, which enable them to rotate and be raised and lowered. To eliminate boom tip motion caused by barge roll during system operation, the heel pins are positioned over the longitudinal centerline of the barge.

The booms have a specially designed connection at their tips, which mates to pins mounted on the platform deck structure. The six booms are operated by six 150-ton lifting winches, which are each paired with two 1,500-ton blocks, one 1,250-ton shackle, and a 12-in. diameter sling attached to a pad-eye on the deck leg.

The capacity of the 6-boom system is 7,500 tons, but an 8-boom system, using the same size components assembled on larger barges, could lift approximately 10,000 tons. To exceed this limit, it is merely a matter of increasing the size of the barges and lift system components.

Synchronized winches are engaged, causing lift barges to be pulled together. Booms rotate on pins, increasing their angle. As a result, vertical lift is achieved. Once in position, the deck is lowered by releasing tension in the cables.

The Versatruss makes use of a truss formation, with the deck itself as an integrated part of the lift system. Booms transfer compressive loads into the deck which are balanced by the tension forces in the lower cord of the truss.