Abstract: A drilling vessel has a hold adapted to store and transport drilling pipes arranged parallel to the length of the vessel. An elevator extends lengthwise of the vessel in the mid-plane of the hold and communicates between a plurality of superposed holds and the deck. An elongated overhead crane that extends longitudinally of the vessel is arranged in the or each hold, the crane being supported at its ends on tracks extending transversely of the hold located fore and aft of the hold. These tracks are interrupted at their middle for vertical passage of the ends of the elevator. The ends of the elevator, in turn, ride on vertical tracks that are interrupted for passage of the ends of the cranes. In this way, the elevator can move vertically and the cranes traverse horizontally, without interfering with each other.