Offshore pile installation method and system

A pile holding system configured to be mounted to a hull of a vessel, the pile holding system being configured to hold a pile in an upright orientation at a pile installation location at least whilst suspended from a crane by means of one or more winch driven cables, the pile holding system comprising:

• a pile holding tool comprising:
• a base structure;
• a support assembly to be mounted to the hull of the vessel, wherein the support assembly supports the base structure of the pile holding tool;
• a plurality of pile engaging positioning devices supported by the base structure and distributed in an annular array about a center axis of the pile holding tool and configured to engage on a circumferential zone of the pile so as to hold the pile in the upright orientation at the pile installation location;
• and
• a damping system including at least one damping device that is mounted to the base structure and is configured to, in use, engage on the pile suspended from the crane at a location that is vertically spaced from the circumferential zone that is engaged by the plurality of pile engaging positioning devices, the at least one damping device being configured to dampen pendulum motion of the pile suspended from the crane through said engagement on said vertically spaced location,
• wherein the at least one damping device each has a damping arm, the damping arm extending from the base structure, and wherein each damping device comprises:
• an engaging element, mounted on the damping arm and configured to engage a further circumference of the pile that is vertically spaced from the circumferential zone, the engaging element being configured to remain engaged to the pile while the pile is slid downwardly;
• and
• a damper element operative between the engaging element and the base structure,
• wherein multiple damping devices are provided, arranged and configured so that two or more damping arms thereof act in two opposite horizontal directions on the pile to dampen the pendulum motion of the pile suspended from the crane in at least two opposite directions, and
• wherein the two or more damping arms, extend in opposite vertical directions from the base structure, so the respective engaging elements engage on the pile at opposite vertical distances from the circumferential zone.