Patent ID: 8251613

Claim:
Pipeline laying vessel for laying a pipeline on a seabed and comprising: a tower comprising a firing line along which in use the pipeline is laid, and at least one work station for connecting a pipe section to the pipeline; wherein the tower comprises at least one tensioner for fixating and lowering the pipeline; wherein the tower comprises fixating means for fixating the pipeline, which fixating means comprise a fixating clamp, and lowering means for fixating and lowering the pipeline, which lowering means comprise a lowering clamp; wherein the at least one tensioner, fixating means and lowering means are arranged such that the vessel is changeable between a first configuration for laying the pipeline with the at least one tensioner and a second configuration for laying the pipeline with the fixating means and lowering means; wherein the at least one tensioners, fixating means and lowering means are configured such that with the fixating means and the lowering means a pipeline with a higher mass is layable than with the at least one tensioner; and wherein the fixating means and the lowering means are configured to engage on suspension means provided on the pipeline.