Handling loads in subsea operations

A method of lowering a load from a pipelay vessel on the surface of a body of water, the method comprising:

• holding a rigid rod on an upright launch axis, extending through a hold back system on a pipelay tower of the vessel;
• mechanically coupling a lower end of the rod to the load;
• above the surface, connecting a wire to the load directly;
• operating the hold back system to advance the rod downwardly relative to the pipelay tower, submerging the load, while the weight of the load is suspended from the hold back system via the rod;
• when the load reaches a predetermined depth underwater, transferring the weight of the load from the hold back system to the wire by detaching the load from the rod while the rod is held by the hold back system;
• and
• continuing to lower the load in the water, suspended from the wire to a subsea location.

A method of recovering a load from a subsea location to a pipelay vessel on the surface of the sea, the method comprising:

• initially suspending a rigid rod underwater on a wire suspended from the vessel and mechanically coupling the rod to the load at the subsea location;
• winding in the wire suspended from the vessel to lift the rigid rod that is attached to the wire and mechanically coupled to the load to a position extending through a hold back system on a pipelay tower of the vessel;
• when the load is underwater, engaging the hold back system with the rod to transfer the weight of the load from the wire to the hold back system;
• and
• operating the hold back system to retract the rod upwardly relative to the pipelay tower, lifting the load above the surface, while the weight of the load is suspended from the hold back system via the rod.

A method of recovering a load from a subsea location to a pipelay vessel on the surface of the sea, the method comprising:

• winding in a wire suspended from the vessel to lift a load attached directly to the wire toward the vessel from the subsea location;
• underwater, transferring at least part of the weight of the load from the wire to a hold back system on a pipelay tower of the vessel by mechanically coupling the load to a lower end of a rigid rod that is engaged with the hold back system;
• and
• operating the hold back system to retract the rod upwardly relative to the pipelay tower, lifting the load above the surface, while at least part of the weight of the load is suspended from the hold back system via the rod.