Patent ID: 7938598

Claim:
A marine pipeline installation system for laying an offshore pipeline and/or installing a subsea riser, said system at least being adapted to carry out the reel lay method, wherein the system comprises: one or more storage reels for storage of a pipeline to be installed; a pipeline launch tower adapted for launching the pipeline into the sea; a pipeline guide at an elevated position for guiding said pipeline to a pipeline launch trajectory along said tower; and one or more tensioners supported by said tower, each tensioner comprising a tensioner frame and multiple tracks supported by said tensioner frame, said tracks being adapted for engaging the pipeline and supporting at least part of the weight of the launched pipeline, wherein the tensioner frame is supported by said tower via an associated support assembly, wherein the support assembly of at least one tensioner frame supported by said tower is adapted to allow for displacement of the tensioner frame with respect to the tower between an active position, wherein the pipeline launch trajectory extends through the tensioner frame between the tracks, so that the tracks can engage on a pipeline, and a retracted position, and wherein the tower is pivotable to adjust inclination of the tower.