DOCSLIB.ORG

New Underwater Cultural Heritage Objects Found in the Gulf of Finland During Nord Stream 2’S Seabed Surveys

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
New Underwater Cultural Heritage Objects Found in the Gulf of Finland During Nord Stream 2’S Seabed Surveys New Underwater Cultural Heritage Objects Found in the Gulf of Finland During Nord Stream 2’s Seabed Surveys Nord Stream 2 AG | Jul-17 Background Paper: New Underwater Cultural Heritage Objects Found in the Gulf of Finland New underwater cultural heritage objects found in the Gulf of Finland during Nord Stream 2’s seabed surveys > Four previously unknown cultural heritage objects found within the pipeline’s impact area > An almost intact airplane wreck found more than 1 km away from the planned route Several previously unknown underwater cultural heritage objects have been identified in the Finnish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). These were found during seabed surveys carried out along the planned pipeline route of Nord Stream 2, a pipeline system that will run across the Baltic Sea. The seabed surveys in Finnish waters were initiated at the end of 2015, based on a permit granted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. They were conducted by the Swedish survey company Marin Mätteknik (MMT) and UK based company Fugro. The findings have been examined by Finnish experts. 1. Four new findings within the pipeline’s impact area Altogether, 29 objects were inspected within 250 m distance from the two planned pipelines. Based on detailed inspections, four of these were assessed to be either underwater cultural heritage objects or historical objects from World War II: > an approximately 25-metre-long, 8-metre-wide wooden cannon barge, probably from the late 18th or early 19th century. It contains at least 50 to 60 cannons that are likely to have been transported as cargo. > a 23-metre-long and 6-metre-wide wooden merchantman from the 18th century. > sections of the “Walross” anti-submarine net (barrage) from the Second World War. > a badly damaged steel-hulled cargo ship, possibly a seagoing barge fitted with lifting cranes. The remnants of this approximately 46-metre-long and 14-metre wide vessel are widely spread across the seabed. 2. World War II light bomber found outside the impact area A rarer find was a largely intact wreck – a light bomber from World War II – located more than 1 kilometre away from the planned pipeline route. The plane is an American manufactured Douglas A-20G Havoc light bomber with two engines. It is approximately 14 metres long and has a wingspan of 18 metres. The wreck is located in the western Gulf of Finland, at a water depth of over 100 metres. The plane’s nose and part of the cockpit is buried in soft sediment. The propellers of both engines are partly visible, protruding from the seabed. The wreckage was found by MMT in early 2016. Nord Stream 2 then submitted information about it to the Finnish National Board of Antiquities (FNBA). The wreckage has since been examined by marine archeology experts from the Finnish company ARK-sukellus and from the 2 Background Paper: New Underwater Cultural Heritage Objects Found in the Gulf of Finland Finnish Aviation Museum. Detailed investigations have not been performed since mid-2016, as the object is located outside the pipeline’s impact area. Based on Nord Stream 2’s assessments, the planned construction activities will have no impact on the wreckage. The plane or bombs, if present, do not pose any risk to the pipeline during its construction and operational phase. 3. Survey data provided to the responsible national authorities Cultural heritage objects more than a century old are protected by law in the countries around the Baltic Sea. The relevant authorities in each country may, however, decide that more recent wrecks or wreckages (such as aircrafts or ships from World War I or World War II) also need to be protected. According to Finnish legislation, all survey data gathered during seabed studies must be submitted to the permit authority. Data related to the aforementioned underwater cultural heritage objects have therefore been filed to the FNBA. Coordinates of the found light bomber wreckage have been agreed to be kept confidential. All objects within the pipeline’s impact area (within 250 metres of the planned pipeline route in the Finnish EEZ) are included in the national Environmental Impact Assessment report (EIA report). Objects outside of the impact area are not included in the EIA. It became possible to release information about the found wreckage once the EIA was put on public display in April 2017. The release of the general information relating to the light bomber had been discussed and agreed with the FNBA and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment ahead of the publication. The Finnish Aviation Museum has been provided with the information on the plane wreckage. 4. Targets to be monitored and potential impacts minimised during construction The pipeline’s planned installation corridor, within which the pipeline will be laid on the seabed, is 15 metres wide. A safety corridor extends approximately 27 metres on both sides of the installation corridor, within which munitions that have the potential to impact the pipeline during the operational phase will be cleared. Nord Stream 2 implements strict safety measures to ensure that its project activities will not cause any harmful impacts to cultural heritage objects. During construction, an exclusion zone will be established around each object found within the impact area. Objects will be surveyed before and after construction to confirm that no impact has occurred. Furthermore, the use of dynamically positioned (DP) pipelay vessel will diminish potential impacts as DP vessels reduce the need for munitions clearance and thus the risk of potential impacts. 3 Background Paper: New Underwater Cultural Heritage Objects Found in the Gulf of Finland Additional information about the cultural heritage objects found within the pipeline’s impact area in the Finnish EEZ and the survey methods used can be found in Nord Stream 2’s Finnish EIA report under the subheading Cultural heritage. 5. Images Wooden cannon barge © Nord Stream 2 AG Wooden merchantman © Nord Stream 2 AG Anti-submarine net “Walross” ©Nord Stream 2 AG 4 Background Paper: New Underwater Cultural Heritage Objects Found in the Gulf of Finland Steel-hulled cargo ship © Nord Stream 2 AG Bathymetry (3D model) of the light bomber © Nord Stream 2 AG Photo mosaic of the A-202 Havoc © Nord Stream 2 AG 5 Background Paper: New Underwater Cultural Heritage Objects Found in the Gulf of Finland Image of the A-202 Havoc taken with a remotely operated vehicle © Nord Stream 2 AG 6 Background Paper: New Underwater Cultural Heritage Objects Found in the Gulf of Finland About Nord Stream 2 Nord Stream 2 is a planned pipeline through the Baltic Sea, which will transport natural gas over 1,200 km from the world’s largest gas reserves in Russia via the most efficient route to consumers in Europe. Nord Stream 2 will largely follow the route and design of the successful Nord Stream Pipeline. With Europe’s domestic gas production projected to halve in the next 20 years, Nord Stream 2’s twin pipeline system will help Europe to meet its future gas import needs, with the capacity to transport 55 billion cubic metres of gas per year, enough to supply 26 million European households. This secure supply of natural gas with its low CO2 emissions will also contribute to Europe’s objective to have a more climate-friendly energy mix with gas substituting for coal in power generation and providing back-up for intermittent renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar power. www.nord-stream2.com Media Contact: [email protected] 7 .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Economics of the Nord Stream Pipeline System
    The Economics of the Nord Stream Pipeline System Chi Kong Chyong, Pierre Noël and David M. Reiner September 2010 CWPE 1051 & EPRG 1026 The Economics of the Nord Stream Pipeline System EPRG Working Paper 1026 Cambridge Working Paper in Economics 1051 Chi Kong Chyong, Pierre Noёl and David M. Reiner Abstract We calculate the total cost of building Nord Stream and compare its levelised unit transportation cost with the existing options to transport Russian gas to western Europe. We find that the unit cost of shipping through Nord Stream is clearly lower than using the Ukrainian route and is only slightly above shipping through the Yamal-Europe pipeline. Using a large-scale gas simulation model we find a positive economic value for Nord Stream under various scenarios of demand for Russian gas in Europe. We disaggregate the value of Nord Stream into project economics (cost advantage), strategic value (impact on Ukraine’s transit fee) and security of supply value (insurance against disruption of the Ukrainian transit corridor). The economic fundamentals account for the bulk of Nord Stream’s positive value in all our scenarios. Keywords Nord Stream, Russia, Europe, Ukraine, Natural gas, Pipeline, Gazprom JEL Classification L95, H43, C63 Contact [email protected] Publication September 2010 EPRG WORKING PAPER Financial Support ESRC TSEC 3 www.eprg.group.cam.ac.uk The Economics of the Nord Stream Pipeline System1 Chi Kong Chyong* Electricity Policy Research Group (EPRG), Judge Business School, University of Cambridge (PhD Candidate) Pierre Noёl EPRG, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge David M. Reiner EPRG, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Energy, Wealth and Governance in the Caucasus and Central Asia
    Energy, Wealth and Governance in the Caucasus and Central Asia In 1991 the eight countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) became independent from the former Soviet Union. Although a region rich in natural resources, the transition toward a market economy has not gone smoothly for the CCA countries. Drawing upon recent progress in development economics and political science, the book provides fresh analysis of the CCA countries’ transition by tracing the impact of the natural resource endowment. The book examines the synergies between energy-rich and energy-poor states and highlights the practical consequences of both well-managed and poorly-managed energy revenue deployment. The region has been a relatively slow reformer, its governments have become more authoritarian, and the contributors argue that despite recent growth spurts, further reform is required to sustain rapid GDP growth and nurture democracy. They suggest that unless CCA elites change the way in which they deploy natural resource revenues, regional development will fall short of its potential with possibly disastrous consequences. The contributors apply the experience of the developing market economies to demonstrate that the region still holds considerable potential to become an important stable supplier of raw materials and a source of industrial demand to the global economy. However, the CCA could become a threat to the global economy as a consequence of the misuse of energy revenues in promoting the interests of predatory political elites. With contributions from prominent specialists on resource-driven econ- omies Energy, Wealth and Governance in the Caucasus and Central Asia pro- vides a systematic and integrated analysis of the political economy of resource-driven growth in the CCA region.
    [Show full text]
  • Cost Effective Water Protection in the Gulf of Finland
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE The Finnish Environmentprovided by Helsingin yliopiston632 digitaalinen arkisto ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Mikko Kiirikki, Pirjo Rantanen, Riku Varjopuro, Anne Leppänen, Marjukka Hiltunen, Heikki Pitkänen, Petri Ekholm, Elvira Moukhametshina, Arto Inkala, Harri Kuosa and Juha Sarkkula Cost effective water protection in the Gulf of Finland Focus on St. Petersburg . .......................... FINNISH ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE The Finnish Environment 632 Mikko Kiirikki, Pirjo Rantanen, Riku Varjopuro, Anne Leppänen, Marjukka Hiltunen, Heikki Pitkänen, Petri Ekholm, Elvira Moukhametshina, Arto Inkala, Harri Kuosa and Juha Sarkkula Cost effective water protection in the Gulf of Finland Focus on St. Petersburg HELSINKI 2003 . .......................... FINNISH ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE The publication is also available in the Internet www.environment.fi/publications ISBN 952-11-1426-6 ISBN 952-11-1427-4 (PDF) ISSN 1238-7312 Cover photo: Karri Eloheimo/ Water sampling in the Central Waste Water Treatment Plant in St. Petersburg. Graphics: Paula Väänänen & Mikko Kiirikki Layout: Ritva Koskinen Printing: Dark Ltd Helsinki 2003 2 ..........................................................The Finnish Environment 632 Contents Summary ..........................................................................................5 1 Introduction ..................................................................................7 2 Nutrient load ..............................................................................10
    [Show full text]
  • Security Aspects of the South Stream Project
    BRIEFING PAPER Policy Department External Policies SECURITY ASPECTS OF THE SOUTH STREAM PROJECT FOREIGN AFFAIRS October 2008 JANUARY 2004 EN This briefing paper was requested by the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs. It is published in the following language: English Author: Zeyno Baran, Director Center for Eurasian Policy (CEP), Hudson Institute www.hudson.org The author is grateful for the support of CEP Research Associates Onur Sazak and Emmet C. Tuohy as well as former CEP Research Assistant Rob A. Smith. Responsible Official: Levente Császi Directorate-General for External Policies of the Union Policy Department BD4 06 M 55 rue Wiertz B-1047 Brussels E-mail: [email protected] Publisher European Parliament Manuscript completed on 23 October 2008. The briefing paper is available on the Internet at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activities/committees/studies.do?language=EN If you are unable to download the information you require, please request a paper copy by e-mail : [email protected] Brussels: European Parliament, 2008. Any opinions expressed in this document are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Parliament. © European Communities, 2008. Reproduction and translation, except for commercial purposes, are authorised, provided the source is acknowledged and provided the publisher is given prior notice and supplied with a copy of the publication. EXPO/B/AFET/2008/30 October 2008 PE 388.962 EN CONTENTS SECURITY ASPECTS OF THE SOUTH STREAM PROJECT ................................ ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................iii 1. INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................... 1 2. THE RUSSIAN CHALLENGE................................................................................... 2 2.1.
    [Show full text]
  • Nord Stream 2
    Updated August 24, 2021 Russia’s Nord Stream 2 Natural Gas Pipeline to Germany Nord Stream 2, a natural gas pipeline nearing completion, is which accounted for about 48% of EU natural gas imports expected to increase the volume of Russia’s natural gas in 2020. Russian gas exports to the EU were up 18% year- export capacity directly to Germany, bypassing Ukraine, on-year in the first quarter of 2021. Factors behind reliance Poland, and other transit states (Figure 1). Successive U.S. on Russian supply include diminishing European gas Administrations and Congresses have opposed Nord Stream supplies, commitments to reduce coal use, Russian 2, reflecting concerns about European dependence on investments in European infrastructure, Russian export Russian energy and the threat of increased Russian prices, and the perception of many Europeans that Russia aggression in Ukraine. The German government is a key remains a reliable supplier. proponent of the pipeline, which it says will be a reliable Figure 1. Nord Stream Gas Pipeline System source of natural gas as Germany is ending nuclear energy production and reducing coal use. Despite the Biden Administration’s stated opposition to Nord Stream 2, the Administration appears to have shifted its focus away from working to prevent the pipeline’s completion to mitigating the potential negative impacts of an operational pipeline. Some critics of this approach, including some Members of Congress and the Ukrainian and Polish governments, sharply criticized a U.S.-German joint statement on energy security, issued on July 21, 2021, which they perceived as indirectly affirming the pipeline’s completion.
    [Show full text]
  • Brussels Admits EU Law Does Not Apply to Nord Stream 2 the European Commission Has Admitted There Is No Legal Ground to Apply Matter Before the End of the Year
    Energy Reproduced with permission by Energy Intelligence for Oxford Institute of Energy Studies Intelligence Issue Vol.17, No. 186, Thursday, September 21, 2017 Vol. 17, No. 186 Thursday, September 21, 2017 Special Reprint from International Oil Daily for Oxford Institute of Energy Studies . Copyright © 2017 Energy Intelligence Group. Unauthorized copying, reproduc- ing or disseminating in any manner, in whole or in part, including through intranet or internet posting, or electronic forwarding even for internal use, is prohibited. Brussels Admits EU Law Does Not Apply to Nord Stream 2 The European Commission has admitted there is no legal ground to apply matter before the end of the year. EU energy laws to Gazprom’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project despite its Observers believe Brussels’ mandate is plagued with problems, starting long-drawn opposition to the plan. with the fact that it would not ensure that Moscow must negotiate. PrintIn a Sep. 12 letter sent to a member of the European Parliament by the "If the commission does secure the mandate, it would acquire certain le- commission and leaked to the press, the commission’s legal service said gitimacy to negotiate, and it would be difficult for Russia to refuse entering that the application of the EU’s Third Energy Package regulations to off- negotiations; nonetheless Russia could still refuse to negotiate,” according shore import pipelines such as Nord Stream 2 "would raise specific legal to Katja Yafimava, senior research fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy and practical questions, arising ... from the fact that Union rules cannot be Studies. Even if Russia does agree to negotiate, Yafimava doubts whether made unilaterally binding on the national authorities of third countries.” Moscow will accept the application of EU energy law to the project.
    [Show full text]
  • The Environmental Impacts of the P Nord Stream Gas Pipeline in The
    The Environmental Impacts of the Nord Stream Gas Pipeline in the Baltic Sea Juha-Markku Leppänen SYKE Marine Research Centre Content Nord Stream is a natural gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea linking Russian gas fields to the central Europe . The Nord Stream ggpppjas pipeline project . Environmental concerns . Environmental Impact Assessments . Permitting process . CoConstructionnstruction . First results of the environmental monitoring The Nord Stream gas pipeline project . Most extensive single construction in the Baltic Sea . Total length of 1124 km . 2 parallel pipelines . 55 billion m3 gas per year . Total investment of 7, 4 billion € Construction Monitor . First pipeline completed . Second pipeline to be ready in 2012 Main environmental concerns before the construction . Physical damage to the seabed • Increase in water turbidity • Release of nutrients and hazardous substances • Impacts on bottom currents . Dumped munitions and barrels • leakage, poisoning . MitiMunitions cl earance • sediment disturbance • fish,,, seals, birds... Ship wrecks and other cultural heritage . Scientific heritage . Nature reserves . Fisheries, maritime transport, safety Permitting process before commencement of the construction . The pi peli ne passes th e t errit ori al wat ers or EEZ of Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany . Espoo Convention: Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context requires • Contracting Parties to notify and consult each other on all major projects that might have adverse environmental impact across borders • Individual Parties to integrate environmental assessment into the plans and programmes at the earliest stages • RiRussia no tCttiPttEt a Contracting Party to Espoo Concen tion Permitting process before commencement of the construction . TbdTransboundary const ttidtbdruction and transboundary impacts require both national and international permitting processes .
    [Show full text]
  • From Small Scales to Large Scales –The Gulf of Finland Science Days
    Gulf of Finland Co-operation From small scales to large scales –The Gulf of Finland Science Days 2017 9th-10th October 2017 Estonian Academy of Sciences, Tallinn Photo: Riku Lumiaro Photo: Gulf of Finland Contents Co-operation ORAL PRESENTATIONS V. Andreeva, E. Voyakina* Phytoplankton structure in eastern part of Gulf of Finland A. Antsulevich*, S. Titov Development of the program for combined restoration of European pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) and salmonid fishes local populations in two rivers inflowing to the Gulf of Finland in nature protected areas of Leningrad Oblast. R. Aps*, M. Fetissov, F. Goerlandt, P. Kujala, A. Piel, J. Thomas Systems approach based maritime traffic safety management in the Gulf of Finland (Baltic Sea) J. Kotta*, R. Aps, M. Futter, K. Herkül Assessing the environmental impacts and nutrient removal potential of mussel farms in the northeastern Baltic Sea J. Björkqvist*, O. Vähä-Piikkiö, L. Tuomi, V. Alari A spatially extensive validation of three different wave models in the Helsinki coastal archipelago A. Ivanchenko, D. Burkov* The state and environmental consequences of pollution air pool of the Gulf of Finland transport emissions K. Rubtsova, T. Mironenko, E. Daev* Preliminary assessment of water and sediment pollutions in littoral zone of the Kotlin Island. P. Ekholm*, M. Ollikainen, E. Punttila, S. Puroila, A. Kosenius Reducing agricultural phosphorus load by gypsum: results from the first year after amendment M. Fetissov*, R. Aps, P. Heinla, J. Kinnunen, O. Korneev, L. Lees, R. Varjopuro Ecosystem-based Maritime Spatial Planning – impact on navigational safety from offshore renewable energy developments V. Fleming-Lehtinen*, H. Parner, J.
    [Show full text]
  • Nord Stream 2: Background, Objections, and Possible Outcomes Steven Pifer
    NORD STREAM 2: BACKGROUND, OBJECTIONS, AND POSSIBLE OUTCOMES STEVEN PIFER APRIL 2021 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Nord Stream 2 is an almost-finished natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. The Biden administration opposes it and has come under congressional pressure to invoke sanctions to prevent its completion, in large part because the pipeline seems a geopolitical project targeted at Ukraine. The German government, however, regards the pipeline as a “commercial project” and appears committed to its completion, perhaps in the next few months. U.S. sanctions applied on Russian entities to date have failed to stop Nord Stream 2, raising the question of whether the U.S. government would sanction German and other European companies for servicing or certifying the pipeline. Such sanctions would provoke controversy with Germany at a time when both Berlin and the Biden administration seek to rebuild good relations. The two sides have work to do if they wish to avoid Nord Stream 2 becoming a major point of U.S.-German contention. THE PIPELINE The European Union currently imports about 40% of its natural gas from Russia, or about one-third Nord Stream 2 is actually a pair of natural gas of its total gas consumption.4 Gazprom began pipelines that, if/when completed, will run some discussions with European companies on a direct 1,200 kilometers along the bottom of the Baltic Russia-Germany gas pipeline in 2001. At that time, 1 Sea from Ust-Luga, Russia to Greifswald, Germany. it shipped gas to western Europe via pipelines that The two pipelines, collectively referred to as Nord mainly transited Ukraine, and also Belarus and Stream 2, are projected to have the capacity to Poland (the Yamal system).
    [Show full text]
  • Nord Stream 2 – Germany's Dilemma
    NO. 32 APRIL 2021 Introduction Nord Stream 2 – Germany’s Dilemma Kirsten Westphal The Nord Stream 2 project presents the German government with the dilemma of choosing between energy and foreign policy interests. Geopolitical arguments often prevail in the political discourse. Yet, a weighing of priorities requires a look at the energy policy context, too. When it comes to balancing interests, there are no easy or “cheap” answers. With a focus on the energy context, it has to be emphasized that a cooperative approach toward energy transformation promises the greatest dividend for a balance of interests, but it presupposes a minimum consensus within the Euro- pean Union (EU), along with the United States (US), Ukraine, and Russia. By mid-April 2021, there were still nearly the German government to take a political 130 km missing from the Nord Stream 2 stance. pipeline (100 km in Denmark and 30 km in Germany), which stretches from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea and is built Foreign Policy Changes in two strings of 1,230 km each. US sanc- tions had halted construction work for more Nord Stream 2 was launched by Gazprom than a year starting in December 2019. and five European companies in 2015, one As a result of the sanctions, the continued year after the annexation of Crimea. In its construction, insurance, and certification dealings with the project, the German gov- of the pipeline is now a Russian matter. ernment took a fallback position early on, The package of US sanctions (Countering relying on existing German law and an eco- America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions nomic-technical position, and therefore it Act [CAATSA], the Protecting Europe’s classified the expansion of Nord Stream as a Energy Security Act [PEESA], and the Protect- commercial project.
    [Show full text]
  • Eastern Gulf of Finland-1
    Template for Submission of Information, including Traditional Knowledge, to Describe Areas Meeting Scientific Criteria for Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas EASTERN GULF OF FINLAND Abstract The area is a shallow (mean 24 m, max 95 m deep) archipelago area in the northeastern Baltic Sea. It is characterized by hundreds of small islands and skerries, coastal lagoons and boreal narrow inlets, as well as a specific geomorphology, with clear signs from the last glaciation. Due to the low salinity (0- 5 permille), the species composition is a mixture of freshwater and marine organisms, and especially diversity of aquatic plants is high, Many marine species, including habitat forming key species such as bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus) and blue mussel (Mytilus trossulus), live on the edge of their geographical distribution limits, which makes them vulnerable to human disturbance and effects of climate change. The area has a rich birdlife and supports one of the most important populations of the ringed seal (Pusa hispida botnica), an endangered species. Introduction to the area The proposed area (Fig. 1 & 2) is situated on the north-eastern part of the Gulf of Finland, in the Baltic Sea, which is the largest brackish water area in the World. The proposed area is an archipelago with hundreds of small islands and skerries, coastal lagoons and boreal narrow inlets, as well as a specific geomorphology, with clear signs from the last glaciation (ca. 18.000 – 9.000 BP). Coastal areas freeze over still freeze over every winter for at least a few weeks. The scenery in the area ranges from sheltered inner archipelago with lagoons, shallow bays and boreal inlets, through middle archipelago, with few larger islands, to wave exposed outer archipelago with open sea, small islands and skerries.
    [Show full text]
  • Nord Stream 2 and Turkstream – Update on New Us Sanctions
    IG CIRCULAR – NORD STREAM 2 AND TURKSTREAM – UPDATE ON NEW U.S. SANCTIONS Nord Stream is a system of offshore natural gas pipelines from Russia to Germany. It includes two lines running from Vyborg to Greifswald forming the original Nord Stream (NS1), and two lines running from Ust-Luga to Greifswald termed Nord Stream 2 (NS2). NS1 is owned and operated by Nord Stream AG, whose majority shareholder is the Russian state company Gazprom, and NS2 is owned and will be operated by Nord Stream 2 AG, a wholly owned subsidiary of Gazprom. NS1 was completed on 8 October 2012. Work to lay NS2 took place between 2018–2019 but has been disrupted by US sanctions. Prior to the imposition of U.S. sanctions, it had been expected to become operational in mid-2020. TurkStream is a natural gas pipeline running from Russia to Turkey. It starts from Russkaya compressor station near Anapa in Russia crossing the Black Sea to the receiving terminal at Kıyıköy. Construction on TurkStream started in May 2017 and gas deliveries to Bulgaria via the pipeline began on 1 January 2020. This Circular concerns efforts by the United States to enhance the sanction provisions targeting the construction of the NS2 and TurkStream pipeline projects and those who provide vessels and services in connection with either project. The recent efforts are mainly focused on two pieces of legislation – the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and the Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Act (PEESA). While the wording in the CAATSA and PEESA sanction authorizations is different, both Acts have the potential to reach the activities of non-U.S.
    [Show full text]