Offshore platform construction

Between 1967 and 1986 fourteen offshore platforms were constructed at Barry Beach Marine Terminal.

At times between 300 and 400 construction workers lived on site in a specially constructed hostel and up to three platforms could be under construction at any one time.

An offshore platform serves as a base for drilling, and later, oil and gas production and processing facilities. Platforms are designed to be capable of withstanding forces imposed by a '100 year wave', that is, the maximum wave likely to occur in Bass Strait once in a hundred years.

During design of the original platforms in the late 1960s long term weather data for Bass Strait was limited, but the 100 year wave was estimated to be in excess of 18 metres from trough to crest, with a crest elevation of about 14 metres above mean sea level. Wind forces and weight of the structure including all drilling and production equipment, were also taken into account in designing the platforms.