VESSEL AND METHOD FOR LAYING A PIPELINE

摘要

A pipeline laying vessel (1) for laying a pipeline (2) on a seabed, said vessel (1) comprising a J- lay system (4) defining a firing line (5) along which the pipeline (2) is laid, the J-lay system (4) comprising an alignment device (6) for aligning a pipe section (7) with the pipeline (2) suspended from the J-lay system (4) with a sufficient level of accuracy to allow the pipe section (7) to be welded to the pipeline (2), the alignment device (6) being constructed to maintain the alignment during at least a part of the welding operation of the pipe section (7) to the pipeline (2), wherein the alignment device (6) is movable between a first position (10) in the firing line (5) and a second position (11) outside the firing line (5), and the alignment device (6) is constructed to engage a pipe section (7) in the second position (11) and to be moved into the first position (10) together with the engaged pipe section (7).