Patent ID: 8894326

Claim:
An offshore deployment device for an installation vessel ( 4 ) with a deck ( 5 ) to deploy a hydrocarbon transfer pipe string ( 2 ) composed of several pipe segments ( 3 ), the device comprising: a trolley hoist lifting means ( 10 ), installed in a tower ( 6 ) to lift a pipe segment ( 3 ) from an horizontal position into a vertical position, an assembly platform ( 8 ), where the pipe segment ( 3 ) is connected to a previously launched hydrocarbon transfer pipe string ( 2 ), the assembly platform ( 8 ) being provided with a clamping device ( 13 ) that is supported on the installation vessel ( 4 ) and adapted to support the weight of the previously launched pipe string ( 2 ) during assembling, wherein the hydrocarbon transfer pipe string is a flexible hose string ( 2 ) composed of several connected flexible hose segments ( 3 ), and a hose string guide element ( 15 ) placed under the assembly platform and comprising a guiding sheave rotatable around a horizontal axis, the guiding sheave transitions the flexible hose string from a vertical position into an inclined or a horizontal position, wherein the guiding sheave is of a diameter large enough to restrict the flexible hose from bending further than a minimum allowable bending radius of the flexible hose string and the guiding sheave contacting the flexible hose string along a part of the guiding sheave's circumference to thereby cause a gradually curved transition of the pipe string from the vertical to the inclined or horizontal position.