Laying vessel “Akademik Chersky”, the only domestic ship, able to complete construction of the underwater section of the pipeline “Nord stream – 2” (SP-2), headed for Kaliningrad. According to experts of Maritime transport companies, now the ship passes the Strait of Kattegat between Denmark and Sweden, after which will travel around Copenhagen and closer to the Russian port, which, most likely, will stop. Break the ship actually needs as the air — since February, when the Swiss contractors because of fears of us sanctions, refused to lay the remaining few tens of kilometers of the SP-2, “Chersky” came from Nakhodka, where at that time was based, and went to the Baltic sea, through which passes the new Russian gas pipeline. Then the experts claimed that the hike to the new location of the ship will take a month. But now it’s already may, and “Chersky” all no…Why – “MK” explained senior analyst of the national energy security Fund Igor Yushkov.
During the protracted for several months of travel, the interchange point of the route “Akademik Chersky” changed several times, physically without entering the ports regulations. Adventures that had to go through the team pipelayer during this time, you can compare with around the world well-known hero of children’s literature of captain Vrungel described by the Soviet writer Andrei Nekrasov. Real Russian ship had to zigzag and change the course of the most mysterious to the uninitiated observer way.
After the Swiss contractor Allseas engaged in the work of laying the last section of the SP-2, avoid of imposing new sanctions Washington withdrew its ships from the Baltic sea, commissioning of pipeline postponed indefinitely. Russia has promised to finish the prestigious international trumpet their own, and has not sent anyone, but the whole “Academic”. However, this was due to elementary — “Chersky” was the only Russian vessel, was able to lay deep-sea gas pipeline in the Baltic sea.
However, to get to the pipe-layer had move in zigzags, constantly changing its course. In mid-February, when port Finds it was assumed that the ship will reach the Baltic sea in just a month. However, first, the pipelayers went to South Africa. Marine experts explained the elongation of the distance of the unstable weather in the Northern seas of Russia, in which the technological features of such a vehicle requires maintaining maximum safety of its future operation. Then, to the surprise of observers, the “academic” did not pass the Suez canal, although previously assumed will go to Balti��at it this way. Then “Chersky” sailed to the Canary Islands, and the next destination announced the Egyptian Port said. Many had the opinion that the ship is going to go back to the far East, as they say, not empty-handed.
And now, though, the ship goes around Denmark, and in its route map of the final destination indicated Find. Only, as suggested by a leading analyst of the national energy security Foundation, Igor YUSHKOV, “Academician” is likely to once again disingenuous, trying to “gardens” to reach the Baltic sea and to begin work on completing the last section of the SP-2.
MK: Why “Academic Chersky” changed its route, the achievements of the Baltic sea a few times? At first it was associated with the transport characteristics, faced by the courts in the seas of the Arctic ocean at this time of year. Then put forward the version about the need to call in a foreign port to purchase the necessary equipment. Then began to say that such changes in movement are associated with the need to avoid sanctions that could be imposed on “Academics”. What to believe?
I. Yu. Considering the fact that none of the ports that “Chersky” originally meant in their documents, the ship is not stopped (that is, there is no cargo, he could not take or leave), it can be concluded that the ship was trying to escape punishment from U.S. regulators who strictly control the implementation of obligations of the sanctions imposed on Russia. If the “academic plan” immediately called the destination — the “Nord stream – 2”, then it is in foreign waters could use the hard nature, until the arrest of the vessel. However, since formally the ship was moved in a roundabout way, no lawsuits, and even more, based on sanctions, to present to him is impossible. On the other hand, the cost of “bunker” oil is now at low levels, therefore there is absolutely a rational choice of route, without passing the Suez canal, because the ports off the coast of Africa the fuel is somewhat cheaper.
MK: But for now, port-a PostScript “Chersky” is Kaliningrad. Is anyone not clear what goals Russia’s only pipe able to finish the SP-2 is moving in that direction?
I. Yu. Not the fact that “Chersky” comes to Kaliningrad. The ship enters into the Baltic sea, but he can stay in the waters. The intrigue lies in the fact that at the beginning of the year, “Gazpromviet” providing transport services to the Russian monopoly has announced a tender for the modernization of the “Academician Chersky”. However, no comment on the matter from Gazprom did not arrive. Gas company SBIbsche, tries not to comment on everything related to SP-2. It is obvious to everyone that “plan” is to finish the new pipeline. The question remains – will the ship go to Kaliningrad or St. Petersburg for refitting, or all the necessary upgrades are already held and “Academic” immediately take over its work.
MK: When to expect the completion of the “Nord stream – 2”?
I. Yu. the principle of “Gazprom” and the date of completion of the SP-2 for the summer is much easier — at this time there is less of the Northern storms that favors to complete the construction of the offshore section of the pipeline. However, Gazprom does not matter when he will complete the project — the main issue is the moment of commencement of the final laying of the pipeline. Currently, American authorities are exclusively their own problems — future elections, falling prices for shale oil, and the epidemic of coronavirus. However, when the “Chersky” reach the destination, U.S. senators once again interested in his fate, and it is possible that they may be followed by new sanctions, which the ship tried to avoid by complex Maritime manoeuvres.
