Offshore staff
HELSINKI, Finland – Allseas’Solitaire has started pipelay for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the Gulf of Finland.
The construction program takes into account varying conditions and environmental requirements.
For positioning, theSolitaire employs a DP system with thrusters so that only the pipeline touches the seabed. A vessel operating without anchors is said to ensure additional safety in this congested region.
The vessel will lay pipes round the clock, seven days a week, with supply vessels bringing in the 12-m (39.3-ft), 24-metric ton (26.5- ton) pipes from nearby logistics hubs, such as Kotka or Hanko.
Pipes are welded together on board the vessel, followed by testing of the welds, and lowering of the pipeline is lowered down to the seafloor.
A survey vessel will make checks pre- and post-pipelay to verify that the pipeline is at its correct position.
The safety zone around the pipelay vessel is 1.85 km (1 nautical mile) and 500 m (0.3 nautical mile) around the survey vesselsOceanic and Olympic Triton.
All safety operations within the Finnish EEZ have been agreed in cooperation with the Finnish Transport Agency and Border Guard, with pipelay overseen by the national authorities.
09/07/2018
