Offshore construction

Offshore construction is the installation of structures and facilities in a marine environment, usually for the production and transmission of electricity, oil, gas and other resources.

[1] One strategy is to fully construct the offshore facility onshore, and tow the installation to site floating on its own buoyancy.

[clarification needed] Oil platforms are key fixed installations from which drilling and production activity is carried out.

Drilling rigs are either floating vessels for deeper water or jack-up designs which are a barge with liftable legs.

Safety of personnel is another key construction parameter, an obvious hazard being a fall into the sea from which speedy recovery in cold waters is essential.