Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for positioning, aligning and interfacing a towed pipe string to a previously installed pipe segment by positioning an end of the pipe string within a predetermined range of an end of the pipe segment, attaching a first gripper block to the end of the pipe string, moving an alignment tool over to the pipe segment while paying out connecting means between the alignment tool and the first gripper block, attaching a second gripper block of the alignment tool to the end of the pipe segment, tensioning the connecting means to draw the end of the pipe segment and the end of the pipe string within close proximity of each other, attaching a third gripper block of the alignment tool to the end of the pipe string, the second gripper block and the third gripper block being in a spaced-apart position, and drawing the second gripper block and the third gripper block toward each other, thereby aligning the end of the pipe string with the end of the pipe segment.