Second pipelaying vessel to join the race to complete Nord Stream 2
A second pipelaying vessel, the Akademik Cherskiy, looks set to join the Fortuna as the race to complete Gazprom’s Nord Stream 2 undersea pipeline hots up.
The race to complete the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline has gathered pace, as a second pipelay vessel, the Akademik Cherskiy prepares to join construction efforts in Danish waters, reports S&P Global.
In defiance of US sanctions, the Akademik Cherskiy will complete sea trials and join the pipelay string at the end of this month. AIS tracking provided by Pole Star shows that the pipelay vessel got underway from Wismar on 4th March and is now holding position in the Baltic off Sassnitz, about 15 nm W of the Russian pipelay barge, Fortuna.
The Fortuna is already engaged in completing the final section of the pipeline, and with less than 100 miles left to lay, 93% of the project is completed. The Biden administration has named the Fortuna and her operator, KVT-RUS, as “designated entities” in the sanctioned project. The Akademik Cherskiy is not sanctioned at present.
If completed, Nord Stream 2, will allow Russia to bypass overland pipeline networks — in particular those in US-allied Poland and Ukraine — providing a direct supply of gas to Western Europe.
US sanctions have had some effect to date. Certification body DNV recently pulled out of involvement with the project, as have Uniper and Bilfinger, but despite the opposition to the pipeline by its larger NATO ally, Danish authorities say they expect construction to be completed by September of this year.
