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Offshore Report: Cover Story ri1 To Tim Domke, the new MA' Dixie Legacy (pic-tured on the cover), is much more than simply the largest, most advanced lift boat in the world. To Domke, the Dixie Legacy is personal, the culmina- tion of a career built sailing onboard these unique ves- sels with the last four years spent shoreside, overseeing the construction activities at Semco Shipyard for Dixie Legacy's legs are 8.5 ft. in diameter. Power Offshore Service of Belle Chasse, La. Semco recently completed a 250-ft. (76.2 m) leg lift boat for Power Offshore Service, the first in a series of lift boats under construction for the company. Dixie Legacy features a number of technical innovations and amenities that should secure its profitable and success- ful future for many years to come. While the vessel offers many innovations both seen and hidden, its greatest assets are immediately evident upon first laying eyes on the boat: its cranes, its deck area and its legs. Dixie Legacy — measuring 225 x 103 ft. (68.5 x 31.4 m) — is the first vessel of its kind to be equipped with two Seatrax Model LM 10520 marine cranes, one mounted on each of the vessel's forward leg support structures. Each crane is rated to lift 175 tons (although if stationed shoreside, that rating would like- ly jump to about 250 tons) and is equipped with a 120 ft. boom. The unique mounting arrangement allows each crane to rotate 360 degrees, a feature which This massive, 175-ton capacity Seatrax crane is just one of two featured aboard the new Dixie Legacy. Domke said significantly enhances the vessels lifting capability and flexibility. The vessel's main deck space compliments the tremendous lift capacity by offering a monstrous 8,200-sq.-ft. of usable work area, an area that in total measures about 10.000 sq. ft. Dixie Legacy will have a variable deck load up to 750 Kips, while Dixie Endeavor, its sister vessel due for delivery in Decem- ber 2001, will have a variable deck load capability up to 1.500 Kips. Finally, Dixie Legacy's legs make it unique as, with zero sea floor penetration, the vessel can operate in 180 ft. of water with 40 ft. of clearance above the surface. Each leg is 8.5 ft. (2.5 m) in diameter and 250 ft. (76.2 m) long. Due to the legs' extra long length, the interior support structure is similarly reinforced to ensure the long-term structural integrity. To ensure the vessel's efficiency in operation, Domke notes that Hydra Craft Pumps from Rolls-Royce are used to power the jacking system, enabling that the vessel gets up and down © 2000 Carrier Transicold Circle 220 on Reader Service Card
