Method Of Hanging-off Flexible Elongate Elements During Subsea Operations, Hang-off Insert And Link Therefor

A method of hanging-off a flexible elongate subsea element from a surface vessel, the method comprising:

• placing a hang-off insert onto a hang-off structure of the surface vessel, the hang-off insert comprising a substantially circular loop whose inner radius is defined by radially inner faces of support segments spaced circumferentially around the loop;
• and
• with the hang-off insert supported by the hang-off structure and the elongate subsea element extending through the loop, resting a laterally-protruding hang-off feature of the elongate subsea element on a substantially planar support face defined collectively by the support segments to transfer weight of the elongate subsea element suspended from the surface vessel to the hang-off structure,
• wherein the hang-off insert is flexible and the method comprises bending the flexible hang-off insert around the elongate subsea element to form the loop.

A hang-off insert for hanging-off a flexible elongate subsea element from a hang-off structure of a surface vessel, the insert comprising:

• a substantially circular loop that can be placed around an elongate subsea element extending through the hang-off structure in use, the loop comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced support segments that collectively define a substantially planar support face of the insert, the support segments each having a radially inner face oriented to face toward the elongate subsea element in use;
• wherein the radially inner faces of the support segments collectively define an inner radius of the loop;
• and
• at least the radially inner faces of the support segments are positionable at various radial positions with respect to a central axis of the loop to determine the inner radius of the loop,
• wherein the hang-off insert is flexible and can be bent around an elongate subsea element extending though the hang-off structure in use to form the loop,
• and wherein:
• the loop comprises a circumferential series of interengaged links that can be added or removed to adjust the inner radius of the loop;
• interlocking formations of the links are elongated in a direction that is generally orthogonal to the support face of the insert;
• and
• the links are engageable or disengageable with each other by relative movement between the links in said direction.