Light-weight versatile J-lay system

A vessel comprising:

• a substantially vertical frame, a vessel support structure supporting said frame, an upper clamping element vertically displaceable along the frame via a displacement member, a lower clamping element supported by the vessel support structure and aligned with the upper clamping element, a loading device comprising an arm that is movable from a substantially horizontal position to a position parallel to the frame for supplying a pipe segment to the upper clamping element, a control unit adapted to control the displacement member and the upper and lower clamping elements for lowering the pipe segment by the displacement member along a pipe trajectory, the upper clamping element being engaged on the pipe segment while the lower clamping element is disengaged, a transverse track extending from a loading position on the vessel to a position alongside the pipe trajectory, and a support member which is displaceable along the track to move a pipe segment into the pipe trajectory.