Method and a kit for constructing a semi-submersible unit

1. A method of constructing a semi-submersible unit, comprising;

lowering a hull into a body of water, said body of water having a still water level, and said hull comprising a side wall and an opening for receiving an end piece, wherein said end piece constitutes at least a portion of said side wall;

connecting a deck structure to said hull to form a semi-submersible unit;

floating said end piece into said opening to said still water level in a direction extending generally parallel to said still water level, wherein said hull comprises a truss assembly at least partially delimiting said opening and said step of attaching said end piece to said semi-submersible unit in turn comprises the steps of:

attaching said end piece to said truss assembly, and

sealing said truss assembly from ambient water by attaching a sealing arrangement to said truss assembly.

2. The method of according to claim 1 , wherein said sealing arrangement comprises a plate.

3. A method of constructing a semi-submersible unit, comprising:

lowering a hull into a body of water, said body of water having a still water level, and said hull comprising a side wall and an opening for receiving an end piece, wherein said end piece constitutes at least a portion of said side wall, wherein said hull comprises a truss assembly at least partially delimiting said opening;

connecting a deck structure to said hull to form a semi-submersible unit;

floating said end piece into said opening to said still water level in a direction extending generally parallel to said still water level; and

attaching said end piece to said truss assembly.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein said method further comprises a step of elevating said semi-submersible unit after said deck structure has been connected to said hull in order to facilitate said floating in of said end piece.

5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein said method further comprises a step of elevating said semi-submersible unit after said end piece has been inserted into said opening such that attaching said end piece to said semi-submersible unit may be performed above said still water level of said body of water.

6. The method according to claim 3 , wherein said end piece is buoyant such that said end piece may be self-floating into said opening.

7. The method according to claim 3 , wherein said end piece is towed into said opening.

8. A kit for constructing a semi-submersible unit adapted to float in a body of water with a still water level, comprising:

a hull comprising a side wall having an opening formed therethrough;

a deck structure; and

an end piece adapted to constitute at least a portion of said side wall, and adapted to be floated into said opening and attached to said hull after said deck structure has been attached to said hull and, wherein said hull comprises a first and a second longitudinally extending float, wherein each one of said first and second float is adapted to extend through said still water level of said body of water, wherein said first and second floats are connected to one another by means of a substantially transversally extending bridging arrangement wherein: at least a portion of said first float, at least a portion of said second float and at least a portion of said bridging arrangement at least partially delimits said opening.

9. The kit according to claim 8 , wherein said hull comprises a truss assembly at least partially delimiting said opening.

10. The kit according to claim 8 , wherein said end piece comprises structural tanks.

11. The kit according to claim 8 , wherein said hull comprises tanks adapted to store liquefied natural gas.

12. The kit according to claim 8 , wherein said kit comprises a plurality of end pieces such that said side wall delimits an enclosed area.

13. The kit according to claim 8 , wherein said end piece comprises ballast water tanks.

14. A method of constructing a semi-submersible unit, comprising:

lowering a hull into a body of water, said body of water having a still water level, and said hull comprising a side wall, an opening for receiving an end piece, and a truss assembly at least partially delimiting said opening, wherein said end piece constitutes at least a portion of said side wall;

connecting a deck structure to said hull to form a semi-submersible unit;

floating said end piece into said opening to said still water level;

attaching said end piece to said truss assembly; and

sealing said truss assembly from ambient water by attaching a sealing arrangement to said truss assembly, wherein said sealing arrangement comprises a plate.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein said method further comprises a step of elevating said semi-submersible unit after said deck structure has been connected to said hull in order to facilitate said floating in of said end piece.

16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein said method further comprises a step of elevating said semi-submersible unit after said deck structure has been connected to said hull in order to facilitate said floating in of said end piece.