The Allseas offshore pipelay vessel Solitaire has started the pipelay for the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline in the Gulf of Finland.
Before the start of pipelay, the vessel was equipped and tested to meet the project’s requirements.
Solitaire is a 300 metres long and 41 metres wide vessel that will lay pipes around the clock seven days a week.
Pipe supply vessels will deliver the 12-metre, 24-tonne pipes used to build Nord Stream 2 to the pipelay vessel from the project’s nearest logistics hubs, such as Kotka or Hanko, to maintain the necessary pipe stock.
The pipes are welded together on board the vessel, then welds are tested and finally the pipeline is lowered down to the seabed. A survey vessel will perform surveys prior to and after pipelay to verify that the pipeline is located at its correct position.
The safety zone around the pipelay vessel is 1 nautical mile and around the survey vessels Oceanic and Olympic Triton 0.3 nautical miles.