McDermott International, Inc. ("McDermott") announces that the Derrick Barge 50 ("DB50") recently completed the installation of a drilling and production platform in the U. S. Gulf of Mexico continental shelf that included the heavy lift of a 3,250-ton jacket. This lift establishes the record for the largest jacket lifted by the vessel to date.

Photo: The McDermott heavy-lift vessel, Derrick Barge 50, installed a 3,250-ton jacket in the Gulf of Mexico.

"This milestone for the DB50 further demonstrates that McDermott has the right assets to meet the demands of our clients," said Scott Munro, Vice President, Americas/Europe/Africa. "The project specified that the jacket be lifted, not launched and our heavy-lift vessel fit the criteria, providing the flexibility required to install a jacket of this magnitude and its corresponding deck."

The six-pile platform was lifted by the DB50 in tie-back mode over the stern of the vessel in waters 391 feet deep over an existing well site. Piles were driven to a designed penetration of 430 feet and a 2,300-ton drilling and production deck was then installed on the jacket.

Following this successful project execution, McDermott has been awarded further transportation and installation contracts for the U. S. Gulf of Mexico that are expected to be executed by the DB50 in during the first half of 2015.

The DB50 is capable of lifting surface loads up to 4,400 tons and lowering up to 480 tons in 11,500 feet of water.