Nord Stream AG informed on Thursday that the munitions object, found last week near Nord Stream Line 2 in the Baltic Sea, has been cleared and the gas pipeline has been reopened.
According to Nord Stream, the operator of the pipeline carrying Russian gas to Europe trough the Baltic Sea, the Swedish Armed Forces have cleared the munitions object found near Nord Stream Line 2.
Line 2, which had been closed at inlet as a precautionary measure, was reopened and resumed gas transportation.
The piece of munitions was found in close proximity to the Nord Stream Line 2 on November 6, 2015 during routine survey operations as part of annual integrity assessment activities of the Nord Stream offshore pipeline system. The object was located in the Swedish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) approximately 120 km away from the island of Gotland.
The pipeline operator still has not provided any details on the nature nor origin of the object found. However, Swedish media previously reported that the mysterious object was an expendable subsea drone used to destroy underwater mines by detonating a large caliber charge and destroying both itself and the mine in the process.
Offshore Energy Today reached out to the Swedish Armed Forces seeking more details about the nature of the object found near the pipeline. The article will be updated should we get a response.
Offshore Energy Today Staff