Patent ID: 8870495
Filing Date: 2014-10-28
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
1. A pipeline laying vessel for laying a pipeline on a seabed, said vessel comprising: a welding station, a J-lay system defining a firing line along which the pipeline is laid, the J-lay system comprising: an alignment device for aligning a first pipe section in a working location in the firing line with the pipeline which is also in said firing line, the working location being located above said welding station, the pipeline being suspended from the J-lay system, the alignment device performing the alignment with a sufficient level of accuracy to allow a lower end of the first pipe section to be welded to the pipeline in the welding station, the alignment device being constructed to maintain the alignment of the first pipe section and the pipeline during at least a part of the welding operation of the first pipe section to the pipeline, wherein the alignment device is movable between a first alignment device position at the firing line and a second alignment device position which is remote from the firing line, wherein the alignment device is constructed to engage the first pipe section in the second alignment device position while a second pipe section, which is connected to the pipeline before said first pipe section, is still at least partially in the working location above the welding station, the alignment device being constructed to move said first pipe section to the working location in the firing line after the second pipe section has been connected to the pipeline and has been lowered by the J-system, wherein the alignment device is configured to be disengaged from the first pipe section in the working location and to be moved to the second alignment device position while the first pipe section remains in the working location, and wherein the vessel comprises a pipe section loader for positioning the first pipe section substantially parallel to the firing line and near or in the alignment device located in the second alignment device position.