Nord Stream 2 Construction Is Close to Recommencing

The construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline along the Baltic Sea bottom which was suspended in December last year due to US sanctions threat, might recommence in the near future. The Bloomberg agency stated based on satellite images of the construction area analysis. According to Bloomberg, the Russian pipe-laying vessel Akademik Chersky arrived at the port of Mukran in northern Germany. It traveled to Germany from the Far East for almost three months. It is in the port of Mukran that pipes to be laid are now located to complete the project. Satellite images taken on May 10, indicate that sections of the pipeline collected on land were moved to the platform with a powerful construction crane. Nearby are also auxiliary vessels, including the Russian barge Fortuna which are supposed to help Academician Chersky in pipes laying. The company Nord Stream 2 AG, the operator of the Nord Stream 2, did not confirm or deny the completion of the gas pipeline is to begin in the near future. According to Bloomberg, about 6 percent of the pipeline remains to be completed - a little over 100 kilometers. "Academician Chersky" even alone can cope with this task until the end of 2020. Previously, the pipeline was laid by more powerful pipe-laying vessels owned by the Swiss company Allseas. However, work ceased after the US Congress in late December last year passed the bill imposing sanctions on ship owners involved in Nord Stream-2 pipe laying. The US is opposed to the project, arguing that it makes Europe overly dependent on Russian gas and therefore vulnerable. Ukraine and a number of EU countries share the same position. Germany, Austria and a number of other countries whose companies are involved in the construction, insist that it is talking exclusively about a business project. After sanctions imposing, Russian officials said that Nord Stream 2 would still be completed by the end of 2020 or the beginning of 2021. Akademik Chersky is owned by a Gazprom subsidiary.