High Winds & Strong Waves Lists Elevated Liftboat Causing $6.9 Million Damage

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, a storm’s solid waves and gale-force winds led a liftboat in the Gulf of Mexico to flip over, causing an estimated $6.9 million in damages. The liftboat L/B Robert was seen listing against a stationary oil platform on November 20, 2022, approximately 80 miles southeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana.

The vessel was left unattended and hoisted out of the water after the crew left two days earlier due to predicted bad weather. Fortunately, no pollutants or injuries were recorded.

On November 17, 2022, the skipper decided to abandon the liftboat due to waves that were predicted to be higher than the vessel could handle. Given the expected conditions, investigators concluded that this action, instead of trying transit or remaining on board, was cautious and minimised the risk to the crew.

Following shoreside management’s instructions, the crew left the boat with an air gap approximately twenty-five feet above the water’s surface, in line with the highest predicted wave heights to increase the resistance of the craft to overturning.

Despite these safeguards, the ship probably encountered waves as high as thirty feet, exceeding the air gap and preliminary predictions. The seabed foundation surrounding the liftboat’s pads deteriorated due to the wind and wave forces that traveled down the boat’s legs to reach them. According to investigators, the ship tilted to port, and its deck edge submerged as the poor bottom foundation beneath the port leg collapsed and the leg slid into an open hole.

Reference: NTSB

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