Patent ID: 7581904
Filing Date: 2009-09-01
Classification: B63B,F16L

Abstract:
1. A sea-going vessel having opposed sides, a centerline and a deck, and having pipe launching apparatus for running continuous elongate product, the pipe launching apparatus comprising: a product supply apparatus arranged substantially at a deck level, said product supply apparatus being selectively configurable from a first configuration for supplying continuous elongate product into a first path having a generally horizontal component along a deck on one side of a centerline of said vessel and a second configuration for supplying continuous elongate product into a second path having a generally horizontal component along a deck at the opposite side of said centerline; a tower structure mounted substantially on the vessel centerline and inclinable to a desired launch angle to align with a catenary curve of said product suspended below the vessel; a pipe handler within said tower structure to receive said product at a central elevated position for gripping and supporting the weight of the suspended product while paying it out; and a tower diverter for receiving said product from deck level at one of two side elevated positions above said first path or said second path, respectively, depending on whether said product supply apparatus is in said first configuration or said second configuration.