Ocean Builder 1:
The Ocean Builder 1 was a self-propelled ship-shaped derrick barge that I worked on when McDermott Marine and Offshore Pipelines Inc. (OPI) merged to form J. Ray McDermott Marine in 1995. The "Builder" as she was known was a former oil-bulk ore carrier converted in 1978 with the addition of a 2000 ton American crane for Amoco installing platforms in Trinidad. She wound up in the Brown & Root marine construction fleet and eventually became the flagship of fledgeling upstart OPI. Her sillouette adorned the sign in front of OPI's Westheimer St. offices in Houston well after the merger.
The Builder was unique in its arrangement in that the living quarters were located on the stern of the ship behind the gantry making stern lifts impossible. The OPI crews overcame this obstacle well concentrating on often risky salvage work and installations for smaller independant oil companies. The former ore hold provided a warehouse worth of storage for slings, shackles, pile jetting equipment, internal pile elevators, and anything else needed for offshore construction on a worldwide basis.
Ocean Builder 1 photos:
Ocean Builder's 2000-ton American Gantry
