20110274498 | PIPELAY VESSEL - A pipelay vessel has a stinger extending along and outboard of one side of the vessel. A diverter is arranged to lead pipe onto the stinger input end through a predominantly horizontal diversion angle from a pipeline source having a substantially horizontal orientation. The vessel is selectively operable in any one of three modes, namely: (1) shallow S-lay, in which the pipe is launched over a stern-mounted stinger with a launch angle which has a predominantly horizontal component; (2) steep S-lay, in which the pipe is launched over the side-mounted stinger with a launch angle which has a predominantly vertical component; and (3) J-lay, in which the pipe is welded at and launched from a tower. The axis of the J-lay apparatus is aligned with the departure axis of the side-mounted stinger. | 11-10-2011 |