The Russian pipelayer Akademik Chersky has completed the transition from the German port of Mukran (where the logistics terminal of the Nord Stream 2 construction site is located) to the Kaliningrad region and anchored in the roadstead of the Curonian Spit, according to the positioning systems of sea vessels.
Next to the construction ship are two auxiliary ships - "Baltic Explorer" and "Balkan". Following the Cherskiy, two Russian auxiliary vessels Umka and Finval left the water area of the Mukran port.
In October, in the same place on the roadstead of the Curonian Spit, Akademik Chersky and a detachment of special vessels conducted training on the Baltic Sea shelf for further underwater work on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
In addition, another Russian vessel, the Portovy gas tanker, purchased to operate as an offshore LNG storage facility at the Portovaya compressor station, has now come to the shores of Kaliningrad.
On Thursday, certification company DNV GL announced that it had stopped work on the Nord Stream 2 project. DNV GL's work included reviewing documentation and monitoring construction work for compliance with standards. This included monitoring tests and preparing equipment used on board ships during pipeline installation.
DNV GL ceased work on the project after receiving comments from the US State Department regarding the European Energy Security Protection Act (PEESA).
The construction of the pipeline by European contractors was stopped due to US sanctions and, as Gazprom said, the Nord Stream 2 project, which is almost 94% completed, will be completed by the Russian side.
On October 20, the US Department of State expanded the interpretation of the "provision of ships" from the Nord Stream 2 sanctions law, stating that the actions of companies providing various services for such ships (for example, services for retrofitting or upgrading or financing such works). The agency gave companies 30 days to curtail the prohibited activities.
American lawmakers are going to extend sanctions directly to certification services for Nord Stream 2, which threatens to put an end to the project. However, the corresponding bill will not be adopted until December, and it is not finally clear what sanctions will be included there.
