Hanging-off flexible elongate elements during subsea operations

A hang-off insert 28 for hanging-off a flexible elongate subsea element from a surface vessel has a circular loop that comprises circumferentially-spaced support segments 30, 32. Collectively, the segments 30, 32 define a planar support face 34 and have radially inner faces that define an inner radius of the loop. The radially inner faces of the support segments 30, 32 can be positioned at various radial positions to determine the inner radius of the loop and hence to adapt the circumference of the loop to suit different diameters of elongate subsea elements. With the hang-off insert 28 supported by a hang-off structure of the vessel, a laterally-protruding hang-off feature of the elongate subsea element extending through the loop may be rested on the support face 34 to transfer suspended weight loads to the hang-off structure. A link for a hang off insert comprises planar upper 34 and lower 36 faces parallel and spaced apart from each other. A tongue extends between the upper 34 and lower 36 faces at one end, and a groove, complementary to the tongue extends between the upper 34 and lower 36 faces at the opposite end.