A method of handling a discrete elongate subsea element (32) of determinate length, such as a spool of rigid pipe. The method comprises shortening a tensile chord system (44) acting on longitudinally-spaced locations (52) on the element to apply longitudinally-compressive forces to the element. The compressive forces bend the element along its length against elastic recovery force to shorten the span of the element. One end of the element is anchored at a first anchorage (34) before or after the element is bent. The other end of the element is anchored at a second anchorage (34), after the element is bent and while the element remains bent. The method is apt to be used during installation of the element, where the anchorages are both underwater, and during transportation of the element, where the anchorages are hang-off platforms of a surface vessel.