Patent ID: 7862255

Claim:
A marine pipelaying system to be mounted on a vessel for installing an offshore pipeline that includes one or more accessories, the system comprising: a pipeline launch device for launching the pipeline from the vessel in the direction of the seabed; a pipeline clamping device adapted to clamp and support the weight of the previously launched pipeline; an accessory handling device, which is adapted to receive and support an accessory and allow displacement thereof between an receiving position, wherein the accessory is received by the handling device and a pipeline connecting position, wherein the accessory can be connected to the pipeline; and an accessory loader device for moving an accessory into said receiving position, wherein said accessory loader device comprises: a base mounted on said vessel; a pivotable loader arm, said loader arm being pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis with respect to said base; a first linkage member, pivotable about an associated horizontal pivot axis with respect to said base; an actuator mounted between said base and said first linkage member; and a second linkage member, extending between said first linkage member and said loader arm and pivotable pivotably connected thereto.