Pipe-laying ship

The Solitaire, one of the largest pipe-laying ships in the world.

A pipelaying ship is a maritime vessel used in the construction of subsea infrastructure. It serves to connect oil production platforms with refineries on shore. To accomplish this goal a typical pipelaying vessel carries a heavy lift crane, used to install pumps and valves, and equipment to lay pipe between subsea structures.

Lay methods consist of J-lay and S-lay and can be reel-lay or welded length by length. Pipelaying ships make use of dynamic positioning systems or anchor spreads to maintain the correct position and speed while laying pipe.

Recent advances have been made, with pipe being laid in water depths of more than 2,500 metres.

The term "pipelaying vessel" or "pipelayer" refers to all vessels capable of laying pipe on the ocean floor. It can also refer to "dual activity" ships. These vessels are capable of laying pipe on the ocean floor in addition to their primary job. Examples of dual activity pipelayers include barges, modified bulk carriers, modified drillships semi-immersible laying vessels among others.^[1]

See also

• Offshore geotechnical engineering
• Submarine pipeline
• Pipelaying

Notes

References

• A.C. Palmer, R.A. King (2008) Subsea Pipeline Engineering, PennWell Books.

Modern merchant ships
Dry cargo	Barge Bulk carrier Car float Chain boat Coaster Collier Container ship Heavy-lift ship Hopper barge Lake freighter Lighter aboard ship Livestock carrier Reefer ship RORO ship Submarine Cargo Vessel Train ferry
Tankers	Chemical tanker FPSO unit Gas carrier LNG carrier Oil tanker
Passenger	Cable ferry Cargo liner Cruise ship Cruiseferry Ferry Narrowboat Ocean liner RORO ship Train ferry
Support	Diving support vessel Fireboat Platform supply vessel Pusher Tender Tugboat
Other	Floating restaurant Cable layer Crane vessel Dredger Drillship Fishing vessel Icebreaker Merchant submarine Narco-submarine Pipe-laying ship Research vessel Riverboat Semi-submersible Snagboat