An experimental approach for the offshore launching of jack-ups

Recently, as part of the building contract for the new Brazilian jack-up drilling platforms, an operational challenge was raised: to launch these units from the building site, where neither dry dock nor launching ground ways exist. Economically, the best alternative was to launch these jack-ups using the available barges used commonly for jacket launch. Due to the marked differences between a jacket and a jack-up, the implementation of this novel launch operation required a careful feasibility study. Model tests were required to measure the motions of the barge and the jack-up and to evaluate the loads on the barge rocker arms. The present paper discusses the experimental approach, test setup, calibration procedures, and some results from the hydrodynamics perspective.