Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit has arrived in Anapa on the northern coast of the Black Sea to start preparations for laying of the twin TurkStream gas pipelines.
The vessel will be responsible for the deeper water section of the route from Russia to Turkey. Last month, Allseas’Audacia started pipelay near the Russian coast – it will also undertake pipe pulling through micro-tunnels.
TurkStream will comprise two parallel gas pipelines extending for 930 km (578 mi) across the Black Sea, each with a diameter of 81 cm (32 in.) and annual throughput capacity of 15.75 bcm.
According to Gazprom, it will also be the first pipeline of its size to be installed in a water depth of up to 2,200 m (7,218 ft).
One of the pipelines will supply the Turkish market, while the other will take Russian gas to the Turkish-Greek border for onward delivery to markets in Europe.
First gas should flow through the system by late 2019.
