A protective cover for a subsea elongate element, such as a pipeline, has an open end and a barrier attached to a cover to extend across and close an open end. The barrier is flexible to conform to and surround an elongate element extending from under the cover and protruding through the barrier. This prevents rocks of a rock berm from getting under the cover through the open end.

Pipe handling apparatus with an insert (4) configured to be inserted into a pipe to be handled (23). One or more clamping members (19) are moveably mounted relative to the insert. One or more actuators (17) are operable to urge the clamping members (19) towards the insert (4) thereby to grip the wall of the pipe to be handled (23). The insert (4) may be cylindrical. Multiple clamping members (19) may be spaced around the insert (4). The clamping members (19) may extend axially along the insert (4). The apparatus is suitable for handling flexible pipes (23) formed from multiple layers of helically wound metal strands.

A pipe-in-pipe assembly with thermally-insulating spacers positioned in an annulus to act radially between inner and outer pipes is disclosed. The spacers have at least one circumferentially-extending array of circumferentially-spaced ribs that define longitudinally-extending passageways in gaps between neighbouring ribs of the array. Cables including heating elements extend longitudinally along, the annulus outside the inner pipe. The cables extend longitudinally along the passageways. At least one insulation layer disposed radially outboard of the cables has insulating elements disposed in the gaps between the ribs and/or an insulating layer extending around the inner pipe, positioned radially outboard of the ribs and bridging the gaps. Bands encircle and retain components of the insulation layer. Insulation may also be disposed on the inner pipe between first and second arrays of ribs, those arrays being spaced longitudinally from each other.

A cladding tube (1) for enveloping an underwater conduit (2), such as a pipeline or a cable line, has at least one clamping portion (6), which comprises at least one deformation portion (6A, 6B, 6C) being integrally manufactured with the cladding tube (1), which deformation portion (6A, 6B, 6C) is a first wall portion of the cladding tube (1), which has a larger thickness in the radial direction than at least one second wall portion (8) of the clamping portion concerned, in such manner that by the larger thickness the first wall portion is, and the at least one second wall portion (8) is not, pressed against the underwater conduit (2) by a tensioning strap (7) being tensioned all round. The deformation portion concerned is easy to produce, durable and reliable. Thanks to the at least one clamping portion the cladding tube can be designed in harder and lower-cost materials than the soft, flexible poly urethane, which is usually applied nowadays.

A cover including an elongate body, capable of being applied to be facing an outer surface of the pipe, and at least one longitudinal interaction element for interacting with the pipe, supported by the elongate body. The elongate body is reversibly deformable under the effect of its own weight, the elongate body having a length of more than 10 m. The cover treats solid build-ups within a fluid-transport pipe in a simple, straightforward and inexpensive manner.

A foundation interface that avoids the problem of galvanic corrosion. According to one aspect, the invention provides a foundation interface device arranged to engage an opening in the wall of an offshore foundation or structure having walls made of a first metal. The interface device has teeth or arms arranged to engage the inside of the opening. The teeth or arms are provided with galvanic protection means. According to one aspect, the galvanic protection means comprises a non-metallic contact member arranged on the teeth or arms, where the non-metallic member is in contact with the inside of the opening. According to one aspect the non-metallic contact member is made of a ceramic material.

A pipe-clamping mattress has a first pipe-clamping block and a second pipe-clamping block. The first and second pipe-clamping blocks have a recessed surface, which together form a cavity for receiving a subsea pipeline. A bottom surface adjacent the recessed surface of each of the first and second blocks is adapted to rest on a seafloor when the recessed surfaces of the first and second blocks are placed around the subsea pipeline.

A transfer mechanism (28) for transferring a fitting (46) on a flexible tubular conduit (48) about a guiding means (26) of a pipelay tower (20). The transfer mechanism (28) includes a frame (30) adapted to rotate about said guiding means (26); and a clamping mechanism (34) connected to the frame (30) and adapted to connect and secure the fitting (46) to the transfer mechanism (28). Actuation of the transfer mechanism (28) is configured to rotate the frame (30) about the guiding means (26) and cause at least one part of a fitting (46) connected to the transfer mechanism (28) to move along a path outside a surface of the guiding means (26) from a first position upstream of the guiding means (26) to a second position downstream of the guiding means (26).

A method and apparatus are provided for laying pipelines. The apparatus is attached to a portion of a pipeline and includes a tensioning member and a buoyancy element attached to a mid-portion of the tensioning member. When the buoyancy element is submerged, the buoyancy force tensions the tensioning member, and the pipeline will take the intended deflected shape to follow seabed depressions.

A pipe assembly station for performing operations on a field joint during pipe assembly has an active rail extending around an opening through which the pipe can pass. Tool carriages are arranged to traverse along the active rail and around a periphery of the pipe. The station also comprises a standby position, distanced from the active rail and a switch arranged to transfer the tool carriage from the active rail to the standby position. By providing such a combination of a rail and a standby position, a tool carriage can be brought into position on the active rail to perform a pipe joining operation and can be subsequently set back to the standby position, where it is out of the way of operations taking place on the pipe. Such a switching arrangement allows for more effective use of the limited space around the joint.