The lessee of the barge "Fortuna" will not finish "Nord stream — 2"
The lessee of the barge-laying "Fortuna", which is able to finish the construction "Nord stream — 2", does not intend to take part in laying gas pipeline in the Baltic sea, according to RBC.
Completion of the "Nord stream — 2" is possible by using the anchor pipelayers, accompanied by another vessel with dynamic positioning system can hold the vessel at the desired point without anchors and mooring. One of the ships that can complete the construction of the pipeline, up to this point is called the anchor barge "Fortuna" of the company MRTS. The second candidate - laying vessel "Akademik Chersky" with a dynamic positioning system.
As told RBC representative of the tenant, "of Fortune" "Mezhregiontruboprovodstroy" (MRTS), the company "does not intend to provide pipe-laying barge "Fortuna" for the completion of the Russian export gas pipeline "Nord stream — 2", which has become the target of American sanctions."
In MRTS also said that the company never was the owner of the barge "Fortuna", and the usufruct "under contract bareboat Charter for use in other projects."
The project "Northern stream — 2" involves the laying of two pipelines with a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of gas off the coast of Russia through the Baltic sea to Germany. It also passes through territorial or exclusive economic zones of Finland, Sweden and Denmark.
The project is implemented by Nord Stream AG 2 with the sole shareholder — "Gazprom". European partners — Royal Dutch Shell, OMV, Engie, Uniper and Wintershall — Finance the construction by half, that is, amounting to 950 million euros each.
Against the project actively advocate USA, in the EU promoting its liquefied natural gas, as well as Ukraine and several European countries. Washington in December imposed sanctions against the project, demanding that the companies doing the strip, to immediately stop the construction. Swiss Allseas almost immediately announced the suspension of the gas pipeline.