Patent ID: 8220407

Claim:
A semisubmersible floating platform, comprising: a) horizontally disposed pontoons interconnected by base nodes to form a substantially rectangular pontoon-ring, said base nodes having a height profile substantially matching the height profile of said pontoons; b) said pontoons including oppositely facing distal ends and an intermediate pontoon portion extending therebetween, wherein said pontoons include an arcuate sidewall portion proximate said distal ends thereof, said arcuate sidewall portion disposed outwardly relative to adjacent one of said base nodes, and wherein said arcuate sidewall portion converges inwardly in a vertical plane toward said adjacent one of said base nodes so that said arcuate sidewall portion terminates at said distal ends of said pontoons forming a vertical edge of a pontoon end cross-section substantially matching the profile of a side surface of said base nodes; and c) at least four support columns battered radially inwardly toward the center vertical axis of said platform extending upwardly from said base nodes to a deck supported above a water surface, each of said support columns including an upper end and a lower end, wherein said lower end of each of said support columns includes a downwardly and outwardly extending transition portion defining a column end cross-section substantially matching the profile of a top surface of said base nodes.