Vessel and method for laying a pipeline

Abstract

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