Abstract: An “outboard pontoon” semisubmersible floating platform for the use of offshore applications has a hull configuration including vertical deck support columns and a horizontally disposed pontoon structure. The vertical columns support the deck structure at upper ends and adjoin pontoon at their lower ends. Under the premise of ensuring platform stability, structural feasibility, and structural cost efficiency, the pontoon is horizontally extrapolated as far as possible radially outward from platform center in the horizontal plan while the elevation of the bottom of columns ranges anywhere from the pontoon bottom to the top surface of the pontoon. The vertical columns are adjoined to the pontoon from its inner periphery and the central vertical axis of each column resides a distance inward from the closest point of the center line of the pontoon. This arrangement makes part of pontoon become the “outboard pontoon” which is the important concept introduced by this invention.