Method and apparatus for manufacturing marine foundation

A method for manufacturing a suction caisson foundation, the method comprising:

• providing a center support having a predetermined height relative to a plurality of peripheral supports positioned about the center support, wherein providing the center support at the predetermined height includes raising the center support along a nominal axis to the predetermined height;
• placing a prefabricated thumb section of the foundation atop the center support;
• temporarily securing a plurality of radial frame members about the circumference of the thumb section with a leg of each frame member resting atop a respective one of the peripheral supports;
• permanently attaching to the legs of the frame members a first plurality of panels to partially form a skirt and define an interior of the foundation;
• permanently attaching the frame members to the thumb section of the foundation such that the thumb section, frame members and attached first plurality of panels become a self-supporting intermediate structure;
• decoupling the center support from the self-supporting intermediate structure, wherein decoupling the center support includes lowering the center support along the nominal axis relative to the peripheral supports;
• and
• after decoupling, permanently attaching a second plurality of panels partially forming the skirt and a third plurality of panels forming a lid to the frame members.