Nord Stream 2 has kick started the offshore preparatory works for pipelaying in the Bay of Greifswald, Germany, as part of the €8bn ($9.1bn) export gas pipeline project to be laid from Russia to Europe across the Baltic Sea.

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Image: A pipe for the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline is fitted in its wire cage. Photo: courtesy of Nord Stream 2.

The Gazprom subsidiary said that five dredgers have been deployed to work on the trench for the two pipeline strings which make up the offshore export gas pipeline project.

Nord Stream 2 construction manager Georg Nowack said: “We ask all users of the Bay of Greifswald to inform themselves in advance via the official notice to mariners in the interest of their own safety.

“We have published an information flyer which is available from marinas, the coast guard and on our website.”

Nord Stream 2 said that all the ongoing activities it is undertaking are based on the planning approval for the construction and operation of the pipeline project in German waters and at the landfall facilities, based on the approval from the Stralsund Mining Authority.

Apart from Germany, Nord Stream 2 has also secured all the required permits for the export pipeline’s construction and operation from Finland where it has started offshore preparatory works.

The project company is seeking approvals in Russia, Sweden and Denmark and expects more permits to be granted in the coming months. The underwater pipeline will transport natural gas from the Russian field Bovanenkovo in Yamal Peninsula and supply it across Europe.

Nord Stream 2, which is an expansion of the existing Nord Stream pipeline, will comprise two 1,200km international offshore natural gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.

Expected to be put into service in 2019, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline system will have a total capacity of transporting 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year. It is expected to help in addressing the energy security in the European Union by supplying enough gas to cover the demand of 26 million households.

The stakeholders of Nord Stream 2 are Gazprom with 50% stake and BASF/Wintershall, Engie, E.On, OMV, and Shell, which hold stakes of 10% each.