Nord Stream 2 AG, a Gazprom-owned company, has signed a contract for offshore pipelay of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea with Allseas.
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which involves two parallel 48 inch lines, will travel through the Baltic Sea, starting from the coast of Russia and reaching landfall near Greifswald in Germany. It will run roughly parallel to the existing Nord Stream pipeline.
Following the letter of intent agreed between both parties last December , the contract was signed on April 6.
According to the deal, Allseas will undertake offshore pipelay works for both lines in 2018 and 2019. The offshore contractor will use three pipelaying vessels – Pioneering Spirit, Solitaire and Audacia.
Nord Stream 2 AG said that the utilization of the dynamically-positioned pipelay vessels, which are able to carry out precise maneuvering without anchors, should ensure additional environmental protection and safety in the congested Baltic Sea. Allseas’ Solitaire previously laid parts of the Nord Stream pipeline in the Gulf of Finland.
Other tenders including the near-shore pipelay tenders in Russia and Germany are ongoing.
The company also added that the Nord Stream 2 project is proceeding as planned, including engineering, procurement, surveys, environmental impact assessments and permitting.
Altogether around 200 companies from 20 countries are involved in implementation of the Nord Stream 2 project for Europe’s long-term security of supply.