A Russian own pipe laying ship "Academic Cheskiy" built by a Chinese shipyard recently arrived in the Baltic Sea and will complete the remaining pipeline laying project of the Nord Stream 2 project, the main natural gas pipe laying project of Russia-Germany.
Ship tracking data shows that "Academic Cheskiy" left the Nakhodka port in February this year and has changed its course many times. The ship is currently detouring Denmark and docking in Kaliningrad on May 3.
It is reported that "Academic Cheskiy" left the port of Nakhodka in February this year and has changed its course many times. The ship is currently detouring Denmark and docking in Kaliningrad on May 3.
It is reported that "Academic Cheskiy" left the port of Nakhodka in February this year and has changed its course many times. Cheskiy will be used to complete the laying of the remaining 160 kilometers of submarine pipeline of Nord Stream 2. The construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is expected to be completed from the end of 2020 to the first quarter of 2021.
Nord Stream-2 project aims to lay a natural gas pipeline from Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany, which can bypass Ukraine to transport Russian natural gas to Germany and through German trunk pipelines to other European countries. The United States has been obstructing this project, believing that the Nord Stream-2 project will deepen European countries' dependence on Russian energy, while also damaging Ukraine's economic and strategic security. .
The Nord Stream 2 project was originally planned to complete pipeline laying by the end of last year. However, in December last year, US President Trump signed a national defense bill to impose sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 project. The sanctions apply to enterprises and pipe laying ships participating in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.
Due to the sanctions, the world's largest marine oil and gas field development platform installation and pipeline laying contractor Allseas announced its withdrawal from the Nord Stream 2 project. Allseas owned the world's largest ship, Pioneering Spirit will also terminate pipeline laying projects.
in Allseas and "Pioneering" After the Spirit withdraws, Russia decided to use its own pipe laying ship to complete the remaining pipeline laying work. Representatives from the Russian Ministry of Energy publicly stated that even in the face of many obstructions in the United States, the natural gas pipeline of the Nord Stream 2 project will be successfully completed. Russia stressed that Russia has now planned to use a "pipe laying ship" to complete the remaining natural gas pipeline construction. Currently, the Nord Stream 2 has 160 kilometers of completion. It was originally planned to be put into use in half a month. Now with the run away from the main contractors, it is very likely that the completion time will be delayed.
Photo: Putin said in an interview that Russia owns a pipe laying ship that can help complete the natural gas pipeline project "North Stream 2".
According to the International Shipping Network, Gazprom acquired "Academic" in 2016 Cheskiy, which uses it as an "alternative", will become Russia's last "life-saving straw" once European companies shut down and withdraw.
Clarkson data shows that the "Academic Cheskiy" is 150 meters long, 36.8 meters wide, 6.8 meters draft, 25,336 tons, a deck area of 1,800 square meters, and IMO number 8770261. The ship is equipped with a DP3 dynamic positioning system, with a 1,800 tons Huisman crane, a maximum operating water depth of 3,000 meters, and 2 40 tons TTS cranes.
According to the International Ship Network, the "Academic Cheskiy" was originally named "Jascon 18" and was ordered by Sea Trucks Group Limited (STG) in 2011. Its hull was built by China Hantong Ship Heavy Industry, and the outfitting was carried out by Singapore's Kwong-Soon ship, and finally delivered in October 2015.
In May 2016, Gazprom confirmed its acquisition of "Jascon 18", renamed it "Akademik Cheskiy", and handed over to Russian pipeline construction company MRTS, which has long been partners in the construction of submarine natural gas pipelines. In 2015, Gazprom provided a $1 billion loan to MRTS, which Russian media said was used to purchase the "AkademikCherskiy".
It is understood that the total length of the "North Stream 2" natural gas pipeline is about 2,400 kilometers, spanning the Baltic Sea, directly connecting Germany and Russia's mainland, bypassing Ukraine, transporting Russian natural gas to Germany, and then sending it to other European countries. The project costs nearly 10 billion euros and is the most important pipeline plan for Russia and Gazprom in recent years after the China-Russia natural gas pipeline.
"North Stream 2" is jointly invested by Gazprom and five EU energy giants, including Shell, and can transport at least 55 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas to the EU every year for at least 50 years.
