Patent ID: 8366352

Claim:
A system usable with a pipe laying vessel, comprising: a support frame of the vessel; a loader arm which is pivotable between a loading position and a laying position, the loader arm being provided with a pipe section manipulation system; a first clamping member having a fixed position with respect to the support frame, the first clamping member being operable between a clamped position for supporting the weight of a pipeline extending into the sea, and a released position for allowing the pipeline to be lowered with respect to the first clamping member, the first clamping member being rotatable in pitch and roll with respect to the pipeline when the first clamping member clamps the pipeline; and a second clamping member being movable between an upper position and a lower position, the second clamping member being operable between a clamped position for supporting the weight of the pipeline during movement from the upper position to the lower position, and a released position for moving the second clamping member from the lower position to the upper position, wherein the pipe manipulation system of the loader arm is adapted to manipulate a lower end of a pipe section which is loaded on the loader arm onto an upper end of the pipeline extending into the sea in the laying position of the loader arm, and wherein the movable second clamping member, in the upper and lower positions, is located below the first clamping member, and at least in the lower position, is located below sea level during operation.