The paper presents the mathematical model of a pipelay spread. In the model, elasto-plastic deflections of the pipe, its large deformations and contact problems are considered. The modification of the rigid finite element method (REFM) is used to discretise the pipe. The problem is analyzed in two stages. First, the quasi-static problem is considered. The tip of the pipe is pulled from the reel to the tensioner. Then, dynamic analysis (during ordinary work) of the pipelay spread is carried out. Some results of numerical calculations are presented.