Pioneering Spirit started pipelay of Nord Stream 2 in Finland
Dynamically positioned pipelay vessel Pioneering Spirit has joined Nord Stream 2’s construction fleet and started pipelay works in the Finnish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) last night. Nord Stream 2 says she will continue installation of the natural gas pipeline following pipelay vessel Solitaire, which started construction in Finland in September. Solitaire has moved to the southern part of the Swedish EEZ, where it will start construction of the 510-kilometre section there for the next few months.
Pioneering Spirit, operated by Allseas, is 382 metres long and 124 metres wide, and hosts an international crew of 570, whereas Solitaire is 300 metres long and 41 metres wide with a 420-strong crew. The pipelay vessels are supported by a survey vessel, which will monitor the pipelay process and ensure that the pipeline is installed at its correct position along the agreed route on the seabed. Pipe joints will be supplied to the pipelay vessels around the clock from the project’s nearest logistics hub in Hanko, Finland and Karlshamn, Sweden respectively, to reduce the environmental footprint.
The Nord Stream 2 project is proceeding according to plan and on schedule. It has received permits in four out of the five countries through whose waters the twin pipelines will pass. Since then, works have been carried out according to the national permits in Sweden, Finland, Germany and Russia. Construction works at the Russian and German landfalls are ongoing, and pipelay vessel Audacia finished its work in German waters yesterday. Already approximately 370 kilometres of pipeline have been laid so far.
