Patent ID: 8291845

Claim:
A vessel comprising: a cargo hull for storing pipes in a substantial horizontal position; and a pipe handling system for handling the pipes from the cargo hull, the pipe handling system comprising: a gantry beam that spans the cargo hull in a substantial horizontal direction; a guide mast assembly comprising an essentially vertical guide mast, said guide mast assembly including the vertical guide mast being moveably connected to the gantry beam, allowing movement of the guide mast assembly including the vertical guide mast in a vertical direction between a lowered mast position and a lifted mast position relative to the gantry beam; and a lifting part comprising a device configured to engage at least one pipe; said lifting part being moveable by one or more hoists in a vertical direction between a lowered lifting part position for picking up the at least one pipe and a lifted lifting part position, wherein the lifted part in the lifted lifting part position engages on the guide mast assembly in the lowered mast position, such that the guide mast assembly causes vertical guidance of the lifting part when the guide mast assembly with the engaged lifting part is moved between the lowered mast position and the lifted mast position.