A method of converting a subsea laying system of a surface vessel from a laying mode to an abandonment or recovery mode includes clamping at least one tubular sleeve in at least one clamp of the laying system. A winch wire can then run longitudinally through the or each clamped sleeve when suspending an elongate subsea element such as a pipe string during abandonment or recovery operations. The sleeve protects gripping pads of the clamp from damage due to clashing with the wire and so makes it unnecessary to remove the pads in preparation for abandonment or recovery

A marine pipeline installation vessel for laying a pipeline on the seabed, the vessel at least being adapted to carry out the reel lay method, wherein the vessel includes at least a first and a second storage reel for storage of the pipeline to be laid, which storage reels are positioned in or onto the vessel; a pipeline launch tower mounted to the vessel, which pipeline launch tower is adapted to launch the pipeline in a firing line along the tower; a pipeline guide which is mounted at an elevated position to the pipeline launch tower, which pipeline guide has a pipeline guide surface member providing an essentially circular or semi-circular pipeline guide surface, which pipeline guide is adapted toin a primary pipelaying position thereof relative to the towerguide a pipeline from a first storage reel over the pipeline guide into the firing line, the pipeline contacts the pipeline guide surface at a first contact point fore of the firing line and departs the surface at a first departure point into the firing line.

A marine pipelaying system and method for lowering and/or raising an offshore pipeline and including one or more accessories thereto, includes a pipeline launch device, a pipeline clamp, an accessory connecting device and a controlled load hoisting device. An accessory handling device is provided including an accessory transport track and a cart adapted to engage and support one of the one or more accessories, such that the accessory handling device is adapted to engage said accessory at the engagement position, position the accessory in the pipeline connecting position in the firing line above the pipeline clamp. The accessory can be connected to the pipeline and support and allow displacement of the accessory between the engagement position and the pipeline connection position.

A marine pipelaying system and method for lowering and/or raising an offshore pipeline and including one or more accessories thereto, includes a pipeline launch device, a pipeline clamp, an accessory connecting device and a controlled load hoisting device. An accessory handling device is provided including an accessory transport track and a cart adapted to engage and support one of the one or more accessories, such that the accessory handling device is adapted to engage said accessory at the engagement position, position the accessory in the pipeline connecting position in the firing line above the pipeline clamp. The accessory can be connected to the pipeline and support and allow displacement of the accessory between the engagement position and the pipeline connection position.

A marine pipeline installation vessel and a method are provided for laying an offshore rigid pipeline in the sea, the vessel at least being adapted to carry out the rigid reel lay method. The vessel includes at least one vertical storage reel for the storage of a spooled rigid pipeline. A left and right reel support structure are provided to support the weight of the at least one storage reel. The left and right support structures are embodied to form a pivoting structure allowing an angular adjustment of the horizontal reel axis about a vertical axis to alter the angular position of the at least one storage reel.

A system configured to handle reels for laying elongated members on the bed of a body of water, and in particular for transferring reels between an auxiliary structure and a laying vessel, has a bridge configured to connect the auxiliary structure and the laying vessel; and actuators configured to move a reel along and resting on the bridge.

An arrangement that brings all of the separate elements of equipment used to lay product offshore such as pipe, umbilicals, and power cables and assembles them into a single device that can be installed on a vessel of opportunity, and includes functional improvements of each. A base is used for mounting, integration, and installation of the separate elements onto a vessel. The base receives a movable lay chute, means for moving and stabilizing the lay chute, a movable hang off clamp and work table, a movable access platform, a product support arm and wheel, and a fixed chute.

A marine pipeline installation system and marine pipeline installation method are disclosed. The marine pipeline installation system includes a pipeline launch tower for launching the pipeline in a firing line along the pipeline launch tower into the sea, and one or more tensioners supported by the pipeline launch tower. The system further includes a pipeline guide supported in a pipeline launch trajectory between a pipeline storage and the firing line above the one or more tensioners, wherein the pipeline guide is provided opposite the firing line relative to the pipeline launch tower. A guide support structure is provided, which is embodied as a single-sided guide support arm arranged on one side of the pipeline guide only.

A method and system for flooding a subsea pipeline includes a high pressure/low flow pump in fluid communication with a jet pump, which pumps a pig through the subsea pipeline.

A vessel for laying a pipeline includes a plurality of workstations disposed along a pipelaying path that includes an upstream portion away from a first end of the vessel and a plurality of ramps, includes a first ramp and a downstream second ramp disposed along the pipelaying path, in the region of the first end of the vessel. Each of the plurality of ramps has a first upstream end, a second downstream end, and an adjustable inclination. The downstream end of the first ramp is positioned inboard of the first end of the vessel and above the bottom of the vessel and the upstream end of the second ramp is positioned inboard of the first end of the vessel and above the bottom of the vessel. An external ramp assembly includes ramps that can be pivoted relative to one another and locked in a selected position.