The status of the Nord Stream Pipeline construction and the considerations of the Szczecin and Swinoujscie Seaports Authority regarding deepening and expanding the ports and its approaches were the focal point of a meeting between Nord Stream representatives and a delegation of the Seaports Authority, on January 10. The meeting featured extensive discussions of the degree to which the laid pipeline could hinder the approach of ships with a 15 meter draught. At present, the consensus is that shipping traffic to the Polish ports will not be hampered for ships with a draught of up to 13.5 metres.
The concerns of the Szczecin and Swinoujscie Seaports Authority centre on possible future developments.
The parties have agreed to form a working group to prepare for the possibility that the Szczecin and Swinoujscie Seaports Authority might opt to deepen their ports and its approaches in order to accommodate ships with a draught of up to 15 meters.
The group will begin its work at the beginning of February 2011.
The working group has the objective of defining in advance the parameters and processes that will be required in order to lay the pipeline deeper if the Szczecin and Swinoujscie Seaports Authority implements concrete plans to deepen the quays and the Northern approach to the Szczecin and Swinoujscie ports.
[mappress]
Source: Nord Stream AG, January 21, 2011;