Offshore vessel for laying a pipeline on the seabed, and a method for handling pipe sections

Abstract

The invention relates to an offshore pipelaying vessel for laying a pipeline on a seabed, comprising a pipeline-laying installation having: - a preassembly line with a joining station to form multi length pipe sections by joining single length pipe sections end to end, - an inspection station associated with said preassembly line for inspecting joints made by the joining station of the preassembly line; - an assembly line with a pipeline assembly station to assemble a pipeline to be launched from the vessel by joining multi and/or single length pipe sections end to end; and - a conveyor system for transporting multi and single length pipe sections, said conveyor system comprising an entry-and-exit location; characterized in that the conveyor system is configured to allow transportation of multi and/or single length pipe sections at least along the following routes: -directly from the entry-and-exit location to the assembly line; -indirectly from the entry-and-exit location to the assembly line via the preassembly line and said inspection station; -from the entry-and-exit location to the preassembly line and said inspection station, and after passing said inspection station directly to the entry-and-exit location.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to an offshore pipeline laying vessel for laying pipelines on the seabed according to the preamble of claim 1 . Background technique [0002] These pipelaying vessels are known, for example, as pipelaying vessels in the form of S-lay or as pipelaying vessels in the form of J-lay. Pipe sections, ie single length pipe sections, may be supplied from a pipe section warehouse, which may be located on board the vessel, for example on a supply deck. The supply deck may be the open, uncovered main deck of the vessel. However, the pipeline section warehouse can also be located on a separate supply vessel, eg a crane, which transports the pipeline sections from the supply vessel to the pipeline laying vessel and then to the access point. [0003] The pre-assembly line preferably connects the pipe sections in a horizontal direction. Depending on the principles of pipe laying, the assembly line can form the pipeline in a substantially hori...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0004] A problem with known pipe-laying vessels is that the handling

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