Handling system and method for transferring an elongate object from a storage position into an upending system

A handling system for transferring an elongate object from a storage location into an upending system, in particular on a vessel deck, the handling system comprising:

• an upending system configured to upend said elongate object from a substantially horizontal position into a substantially vertical position;
• a skidding system configured to lift and skid said elongate object from a storage location into said upending system;
• wherein said upending system comprises:
• a gripper unit configured to receive and grip a first end of the elongate object, the gripper unit including at least a first ring element configured to engage an outer surface of the elongate object;
• and
• a support structure including at least one frame configured to support said gripper unit;
• wherein the gripper unit is tiltable between a first position in which a plane including the at least first ring element is substantially vertical and a second position in which said plane is substantially horizontal;
• wherein each of the at least first ring element is openable laterally in said first position of the gripper unit to receive said elongate object laterally from the skidding system in said first position of the gripper unit;
• and
• wherein at least one of said at least one frame of the support structure is a movable frame comprising an extendible brace, said movable frame being movable between a first and a second configuration, the first configuration being a configuration with the extendible brace being in extended position in which the gripper unit is tiltable and the second configuration being a configuration with the extendible brace being in contracted position in which a height of said at least one of said at least one movable frame is reduced with respect to the first configuration.