Method of assembling a tubular floating structure and its use

A method for assembling a buoyancy module of a tubular floating offshore structure, the method comprising:

• providing a first tubular member and a first stiffening ring for a first segment and a second tubular member and a second stiffening ring for a second segment, each of the first and second tubular members comprising a first edge and an opposite second edge;
• for the first segment, providing the first stiffening ring lying flat and having an outer circumference larger than a circumference of the first edge of the first tubular member;
• placing the first tubular member with its first edge onto the first stiffening ring within the outer circumference;
• welding the first edge to the first stiffening ring from above;
• for the second segment, providing the second stiffening ring lying flat and having an outer circumference larger than a circumference of the first edge of the second tubular member;
• placing the second tubular member with its first edge onto the second stiffening ring within the outer circumference;
• welding the first edge to the second stiffening ring from above;
• turning both welded segments upside down so that their stiffening rings are facing upwards;
• lifting one of the segments with the second edge of its tubular member onto the stiffening ring of the other of the segments;
• and
• welding the second edge to the stiffening ring from above to form a double segment with one of the stiffening rings at a top of the double segment and with a downward facing second edge without a stiffening ring at a bottom of the double segment.