HANGING-OFF ELONGATE ELEMENTS DURING OFFSHORE OPERATIONS

A hang-off system comprising at least one support block 30 that is movable forwardly towards a launch axis for engagement with an elongate element (pipeline) 34 being laid from a vessel into water, wherein the or each support block 30 comprises an array of block portions (52 Fig 7) that together define an engagement face (40 Fig 3) of the support block and are moveable relative to each other to conform a contour of the engagement face to a contour of the element. Aspects include a method of hanging-off an elongate element being laid from a vessel into water, comprising advancing first and second portions of a support block into contact with the element and effecting relative displacement between said portions to conform a contour of the support block to an abutting contour of the elongate element. Aspects include the block portions are a series or set of rigid leaves or plates assembled in parallel. Each plate can move independently of other plates of the set to change the shape of the block, particularly the shape or curvature of a face or an upper edge of the block that abuts an elongate element to be supported by the block. Fig 4