PIPE-JOINING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING UNDERWATER PIPELINES, AND UNDERWATER-PIPELINE-LAYING VESSEL COMPRISING SUCH AN APPARATUS

摘要

A method of joining pipes (3) to produce underwater pipelines (2), wherein the facing free ends (15) of two adjacent pipes (3), aligned along an axis (A), are welded to define a cutback (18); a protective sheet (22) of plastic material is extruded close to the cutback (18); and the protective sheet (22) is wound about the cutback (18).