Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus (10) for handling bulky articles (such as a PLET or ILT (12)) on a deck (14) of a vessel at sea. The apparatus (10) includes a cradle (16) which supports the bulky article (12?), first translational movement means (32 42, 46) provided between the deck (14) and the cradle (16) and second translational movement means (20, 31, 35, 37) moveable along the deck (14). The first translational movement means allows the bulky article (12) to be moved from a storage area and transferred to the second translational movement means, and the second translational movement means allows the bulky article (12) on its cradle (16) to be moved toward an operational location (F). An actuator (26) is also provided between the deck (14) and the cradle (16), in order to adjust the orientation of the bulky article (12) relative to the deck (14), when in the operational position. A method of handling bulky articles on a deck of a vessel at sea is also provided.

Abstract: A method for pipelaying at sea from a vessel, wherein the length of each pipe string is less than the depth of the sea at the laying site, is described. The method includes attaching a string to a line on the vessel. The string is deployed and suspended by the vessel via the line substantially above the end of the pipeline to which it will be connected. The line is paid out until the lower end of the string is lowered to the end of the string to which it will be connected. With the string in a vertical configuration and the end of the pipeline substantially in its installed configuration, the end of the string is connected to the end of the pipeline. The vessel is moved in the lay direction and the line is paid out until the string is laid into its installed configuration.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a tower (10) provided with tensioning apparatus (20) which suspends a pipeline being laid into the sea. The tower is mounted on a pivot in order to allow it to be inclined at an angle away from vertical to match the axis of the pipeline being laid. The apparatus also includes a hang-off clamp (22) and abandonment apparatus (36-42) for abandoning the pipeline to the seabed after laying. The abandonment apparatus can be operated independently in order to suspend or lower articles along an abandonment axis (B) which is spaced from the inclined pipeline laying axis (C). Also, the apparatus is capable of aligning the abandonment axis and the hang off clamp with one another while supporting the article. The clamp (22) is tillable into a stowed configuration, in which it is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the vessel.

Abstract: A very long article such as rigid steel pipeline (100) is transferred to a laying vessel (200). The vessel has apparatus (206, 208) for lowering such articles into the sea in a controlled manner. The transfer and laying is conducted in a first step of spooling said article from a source facility (104) onto an intermediate storage reel (12, 102, 102) separate from the laying vessel, and a second step of transferring the article from the intermediate reel to storage (202,203) on the laying vessel. The intermediate reel (102) is supported primarily by its own buoyancy in water, floating adjacent the source facility (104) during said spooling step and floating adjacent the laying vessel (200) during said transferring step. The floating reel may be provided with a buoyant frame (900).

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus (10) for handling bulky articles (such as a PLET or ILT (12)) on a deck (14) of a vessel at sea. The apparatus (10) includes a cradle (16) which supports the bulky article (12?), first translational movement means (32 42, 46) provided between the deck (14) and the cradle (16) and second translational movement means (20, 31, 35, 37) moveable along the deck (14). The first translational movement means allows the bulky article (12) to be moved from a storage area and transferred to the second translational movement means, and the second translational movement means allows the bulky article (12) on its cradle (16) to be moved toward an operational location (F). An actuator (26) is also provided between the deck (14) and the cradle (16), in order to adjust the orientation of the bulky article (12) relative to the deck (14), when in the operational position. A method of handling bulky articles on a deck of a vessel at sea is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for laying offshore pipeline from a reel lay vessel. The invention involves providing a pipeline laying tower with a travelling clamp, which can be used to suspend the pipeline from the vessel, and a tensioner apparatus on the same tower, for providing a clamping force which can be used to suspend the pipeline from the vessel. The travelling clamp and tensioner apparatus may either be used separately or in conjunction with one another during the laying operation. The invention allows pipeline to be laid in very deep water.

Abstract: Apparatus for overboarding an article from a pipe laying vessel includes a pipe laying tower (10) that is mounted above a tower supporting platform. The tower has tensioners (20) for suspending a pipeline (34) being laid from the pipelaying vessel into the sea and adjusters for adjusting inclination of the tower to align the tensioners with a departure axis of a pipeline being laid. A hoist (26, 27, 32) allows large articles (25) to be suspended from the tower. Adjusters (16) allow the tower to be angled beyond the departure axis, such that the hoist suspends the article outboard of the platform. Articles too large to pass the tower supporting platform of the vessel can be maneuvered first outboard of the tower supporting platform, then lowered and brought beneath the tower supporting platform back into line with the departure axis for connection to the pipeline. A method of laying pipe line from a vessel is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for pipelaying at seafrom a pipelay vessel (100), wherein the length of each pipe string (110) to be laid is less than the depth of the sea at the laying site. The method comprising: attaching one of said strings (110) to a line (180) on board said vessel (100); deploying said string (110) such that it is suspended by said vessel (100) via said line (110) substantially above the end of the pipeline to which it is to be connected; paying out said line until the lower end of said string (110) is lowered to the end of the string (110) to which it is to be connected; with said string (110) still in a vertical configuration and said end of the pipeline substantially in its installed configuration, connecting the lower end of said string to said end of the pipeline; moving said vessel (100) in the lay direction; and paying out said line until said string is laid into its installed configuration.