Clamp

A method of locating buoyancy on a submerged elongate member against movement along said elongate member, the method comprising providing a strap;

• providing a set of separately and identically formed clamp bodies each being shaped to
• provide a pressure plate coupled to an outer plate through end walls, forming a through-going opening which receives the strap, the pressure plate having an inner face which carries a spring element and an outer face against which the strap bears;
• selecting a number of said clamp bodies according to the diameter of the elongate member;
• arranging the clamp bodies in a circumferential arrangement about the elongate member, with said clamp bodies being circumferentially spaced from one another;
• arranging the strap around the clamp bodies to form a clamp;
• tightening the strap, so that said spring elements are compressed and said clamp bodies move radially inwardly, and so that said clamp is able subsequently to resist movement along the elongate member;
• and
• mounting a buoyancy module around the clamp.

A clamp for mounting upon an elongate member to be deployed underwater, the clamp comprising

• a strap;
• and
• a set of separately formed clamp bodies each being shaped to provide a pressure plate coupled to an outer plate through end walls, forming a through-going opening which receives the strap, the pressure plate having an inner face which carries a spring element and an outer face;
• the strap being disposed around the clamp bodies bearing upon said outer face of each clamp body with said springs arranged to seat upon said elongate member in a circumferential arrangement and said clamp bodies circumferentially spaced from one another, so that by virtue of their circumferential spacing the set of separately formed clamp bodies are able to move inwardly as said strap is tightened and said spring elements are thereby compressed, and so that once tightened the clamp is able to resist movement along the elongate member;
• and
• the clamp bodies and their spring elements being formed such that they can, without modification, be assembled into clamps having a range of different diameters and having a differing number of clamp bodies.