Patent ID: 6352388
Filing Date: 2002-03-05
Classification: B63B,F16L

Abstract:
Marine pipelay apparatus for use on a vessel, comprising:a main supporting structure adapted to be mounted at a main deck level of a vessel; a pipe connecting station including means for connecting a lowermost end of a raised pipe stalk to an uppermost end of a previously launched pipeline mounted in said main supporting structure; pipe support means comprising a tower extending upwardly above said pipe connecting station for maintaining a raised pipe stalk at an angle determined by a required lay line with its lowermost end aligned with said pipe connecting station; first, static clamp means for releasably securing an uppermost end of a previously launched pipeline in alignment with said pipe connecting station; and pipe launching means for controllably launching said raised pipe stalk when said first clamp means is released, comprising second, mobile clamp means adapted to be releasably secured to the pipeline and elevator means whereby said second clamp means may be raised and lowered controllably over a predetermined stroke distance between a first, uppermost, zero stroke position and a second, lowermost, maximum stroke position; and wherein: said tower and said pipe launching means are pivotally mounted on said main supporting structure, said main supporting structure being adapted to be mounted at said main deck level of said vessel for fore/aft movement relative thereto and said static clamp means is pivotally mounted on a hang-off structure adapted to be mounted at said main deck level of said vessel for fore/aft movement relative thereto independently of said fore/aft movement of said main supporting structure.