Method for removal and installation of a stinger used in S-lay pipelaying of an offshore pipeline, comprising the steps of: - providing an offshore S-lay pipelaying vessel comprising: • a hull; • an elongated stinger having a hull end and a free end, said stinger being adapted to support the pipeline to be laid from the vessel, o wherein the stinger comprises a rigid stinger frame structure (311, 312), o wherein stinger sheaves are mounted to the stinger remote from the hull end of the stinger, • a detachable stinger mounting unit comprising a stinger suspension cable winch and sheaves, o wherein the hull end of the stinger is pivotably attached to the detachable stinger mounting unit, and o wherein the detachable stinger mounting unit is detachably mounted to the hull of the vessel, • stinger suspension cables which are reeved between the sheaves of the detachable stinger mounting unit and the stinger sheaves, and are connected to the stinger suspension cable winch, - hauling the stinger suspension cables, thereby pivoting the stinger and the stinger sheaves from the pipelaying position towards the sheaves of the detachable stinger mounting unit and forming a compact ensemble of stinger and detachable stinger mounting unit, - detaching the detachable stinger mounting unit, with the stinger mounted thereon, the vessel, and - removing the compact ensemble with the stinger suspension winch, including the sheaves and cables, for transport or other purposes. - providing an offshore S-lay pipelaying vessel comprising: • a hull; • an elongated stinger having a hull end and a free end, said stinger being adapted to support the pipeline to be laid from the vessel, o wherein the stinger comprises a rigid stinger frame structure (311, 312), o wherein stinger sheaves are mounted to the stinger remote from the hull end of the stinger, • a detachable stinger mounting unit comprising a stinger suspension cable winch and sheaves, o wherein the hull end of the stinger is pivotably attached to the detachable stinger mounting unit, and o wherein the detachable stinger mounting unit is detachably mounted to the hull of the vessel, • stinger suspension cables which are reeved between the sheaves of the detachable stinger mounting unit and the stinger sheaves, and are connected to the stinger suspension cable winch, • a hull; • an elongated stinger having a hull end and a free end, said stinger being adapted to support the pipeline to be laid from the vessel, o wherein the stinger comprises a rigid stinger frame structure (311, 312), o wherein stinger sheaves are mounted to the stinger remote from the hull end of the stinger, o wherein the stinger comprises a rigid stinger frame structure (311, 312), o wherein stinger sheaves are mounted to the stinger remote from the hull end of the stinger, • a detachable stinger mounting unit comprising a stinger suspension cable winch and sheaves, o wherein the hull end of the stinger is pivotably attached to the detachable stinger mounting unit, and o wherein the detachable stinger mounting unit is detachably mounted to the hull of the vessel, o wherein the hull end of the stinger is pivotably attached to the detachable stinger mounting unit, and o wherein the detachable stinger mounting unit is detachably mounted to the hull of the vessel, • stinger suspension cables which are reeved between the sheaves of the detachable stinger mounting unit and the stinger sheaves, and are connected to the stinger suspension cable winch, - hauling the stinger suspension cables, thereby pivoting the stinger and the stinger sheaves from the pipelaying position towards the sheaves of the detachable stinger mounting unit and forming a compact ensemble of stinger and detachable stinger mounting unit, - detaching the detachable stinger mounting unit, with the stinger mounted thereon, the vessel, and - removing the compact ensemble with the stinger suspension winch, including the sheaves and cables, for transport or other purposes.