Abstract: A subsea pipe laying system is mounted on a ship and comprises a fabrication station where lengths of pipe are welded together to form a pipeline. The pipeline is then guided to a pipe laying zone where including a straightener under the control of a tensioner/clamping arrangement the pipeline is straightened and laid on the sea bed. The straightener and the tensioner/clamps are mounted on a ramp which can be tilted whereas the fabrication zone is on the deck of the vessel. The pipeline can either be fabricated in a forward direction and then have its direction and movement reversed to lay over the stern or be fabricated in an aft direction and laid over the stern.