Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the alignment of two submerged pipe sections and to an apparatus for performing this method.The invention comprises the use of two lifters for lifting the pipe sections to be joined together until their ends are substantially parallel. A liner is lowered with slightly negative buoyancy up to the pipe sections and above their ends which are to be joined together. It is fixed to said section by its clamping means and is made to bear freely on the sea bed via retractable feet permitting the lateral sliding of the liner. The final alignment phase of the pipe section is obtained by the clamping means of the liner and from inside the welding chamber in which are located the ends of said pipe sections.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling a submersible device, such as a diving bell, includes a winch mounted on a support structure and having a suspension cable with a free end at which the submersible device is suspended, a guide structure fixed to the support structure and having two guidance ramps, each having a portion thereof extending below a water surface, a traveller having two parallel side members with a guidance device thereon which slidably cooperates with the two guidance ramps, a pulley back including two upper pulleys secured to the guide structure and a movable lower pulley fixed to the traveller with the suspension cable passing over the upper and lower pulleys so as to form n strands, and a locking device for releasably connecting the submersible device to the traveller.