Patent ID: 7955028

Claim:
A marine pipelaying system for installing an offshore pipeline that includes one or more accessories, the system comprising; a vessel; a pipeline launch device for launching the pipeline in a firing line from the vessel in the direction of the seabed; a clamping device that is connected to the vessel and adapted to support the weight of the previously launched pipeline, which clamping device engages the pipeline in the firing line; accessory connecting means for connecting the one or more accessories to the pipeline while the pipeline is in the clamping device in the firing line; accessory displacement means comprising horizontal rails located above the clamping device and provided on the pipeline launch device to slide the one or more accessories relative to the clamping device and approximately horizontally perpendicular to the firing line between a storage position for receiving the one or more accessories and a connection position in the firing line above the clamping device for connecting the one or more accessories to the previously launched pipeline while the clamping device supports the previously launched pipeline in the firing line; and a controlled load hoisting device that can releasably be secured to the one or more accessories and the launched pipeline connected thereto and can lower the one or more accessories and the launched pipeline connected thereto in the firing line.