Patent ID: 8752618

Claim:
A pipelaying vessel having a laying tower for handling and lowering pipe into the sea along a laying axis, a deck, a storage area, and positioning apparatus for positioning a structure on the deck for inclusion in a pipeline to be laid while the pipelay vessel is moving, the positioning apparatus comprising: a cradle for supporting the structure, wherein the structure is stored mounted on the cradle in a storage position in the storage area; a first translational movement mechanism provided between the deck and the cradle; a second translational movement mechanism moveable along the deck, wherein the first translational movement mechanism is adapted to move the structure on its cradle from the storage area and to transfer it on to the second translational movement mechanism when the cradle and the second translational movement mechanism are aligned, and wherein the second translational movement mechanism is adapted to move the structure on its cradle toward an operational location generally beneath the tower; and at least one actuator provided between the deck and the cradle, the actuator being operable to adjust the orientation of the structure relative to the deck, when in said operational position, thereby to align it with the laying axis for inclusion in the pipeline as it is laid from the pipelay vessel.