Marine pipelaying friction clamp device for frictionally retaining an offshore pipeline having a longitudinal axis, to be launched into the sea during the laying of the pipeline from a vessel, the clamp device comprising: - a supporting frame that is adapted to be supported by the vessel; - wherein the supporting frame supports, in series in a longitudinal direction of the clamp device which corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the pipeline to be retained, multiple annular arrays (10a-10e) of clamping units (20a-20f) adapted to simultaneously engage separate portions of the pipeline, wherein each annular array of clamping units comprises multiple clamping units, - wherein each clamping unit comprises a friction pad (21a, 21b) adapted to frictionally engage a portion of the pipeline and an associated force actuator, e.g. a radially mounted hydraulic cylinder, adapted to radially force the friction pad against the pipeline, wherein - each clamping unit further comprises a base fixed to the actuator, wherein the friction pad is rotatably connected to the base via a single axis hinge mechanism defining a single hinge axis parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the single axis hinge mechanism comprises: o a first hinge portion (26a, 26b) on the base, comprising a first semi-cylindrical hinge surface, and ∘ a second hinge portion (28a, 28b) on the friction pad, comprising a complementary second semi-cylindrical hinge surface, which first and second semi-cylindrical hinge surfaces are adapted to: ▪ a) transmit the radial force of the actuator to the friction pad, and ▪ b) allow a rotation of the friction pad about the single hinge axis over 2-20° relative to the base; - and wherein the friction pad is axially connected to the base via: ∘ a first axial load surface (30, 32) on the base, ∘ a second complementary axial load surface (31, 33) on the friction pad, which first and second axial load surfaces are adapted to transmit the axial force exerted by the pipeline on the friction pad from the friction pad to the base, ∘ wherein a resilient support mechanism (40, 41) is provided between the first axial load surface and the second axial load surface, supporting the friction pad resiliently in an axial direction, and wherein the resilient support mechanism (40, 41) is provided between the first axial load surface and the first hinge portion on the base. - a supporting frame that is adapted to be supported by the vessel; - wherein the supporting frame supports, in series in a longitudinal direction of the clamp device which corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the pipeline to be retained, multiple annular arrays (10a-10e) of clamping units (20a-20f) adapted to simultaneously engage separate portions of the pipeline, wherein each annular array of clamping units comprises multiple clamping units, - wherein each clamping unit comprises a friction pad (21a, 21b) adapted to frictionally engage a portion of the pipeline and an associated force actuator, e.g. a radially mounted hydraulic cylinder, adapted to radially force the friction pad against the pipeline, wherein - each clamping unit further comprises a base fixed to the actuator, wherein the friction pad is rotatably connected to the base via a single axis hinge mechanism defining a single hinge axis parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the single axis hinge mechanism comprises: o a first hinge portion (26a, 26b) on the base, comprising a first semi-cylindrical hinge surface, and ∘ a second hinge portion (28a, 28b) on the friction pad, comprising a complementary second semi-cylindrical hinge surface, which first and second semi-cylindrical hinge surfaces are adapted to: ▪ a) transmit the radial force of the actuator to the friction pad, and ▪ b) allow a rotation of the friction pad about the single hinge axis over 2-20° relative to the base; o a first hinge portion (26a, 26b) on the base, comprising a first semi-cylindrical hinge surface, and ∘ a second hinge portion (28a, 28b) on the friction pad, comprising a complementary second semi-cylindrical hinge surface, which first and second semi-cylindrical hinge surfaces are adapted to: ▪ a) transmit the radial force of the actuator to the friction pad, and ▪ b) allow a rotation of the friction pad about the single hinge axis over 2-20° relative to the base; ▪ a) transmit the radial force of the actuator to the friction pad, and ▪ b) allow a rotation of the friction pad about the single hinge axis over 2-20° relative to the base; - and wherein the friction pad is axially connected to the base via: ∘ a first axial load surface (30, 32) on the base, ∘ a second complementary axial load surface (31, 33) on the friction pad, which first and second axial load surfaces are adapted to transmit the axial force exerted by the pipeline on the friction pad from the friction pad to the base, ∘ wherein a resilient support mechanism (40, 41) is provided between the first axial load surface and the second axial load surface, supporting the friction pad resiliently in an axial direction, and ∘ a first axial load surface (30, 32) on the base, ∘ a second complementary axial load surface (31, 33) on the friction pad, which first and second axial load surfaces are adapted to transmit the axial force exerted by the pipeline on the friction pad from the friction pad to the base, ∘ wherein a resilient support mechanism (40, 41) is provided between the first axial load surface and the second axial load surface, supporting the friction pad resiliently in an axial direction, and