Marine pipeline installation vessel and method for laying an offshore rigid pipeline in the sea

摘要

The present invention relates to a marine pipeline installation vessel and a method for laying an offshore rigid pipeline in the sea, said vessel at least being adapted to carry out the rigid reel lay method. The vessel comprises 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, which 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 spooling tensioner is provided, which is adapted to engage on the pipeline during the spooling of the pipeline onto the storage reel, wherein the spooling tensioner is supported by a swivelling frame allowing an angular motion of the spooling tensioner about a vertical axis during the spooling of the pipeline onto the storage reel.