Allseas’ pipelay vessel Audacia has started work on the Nord Stream 2 project offshore Germany.
The work scope involves laying twin pipelines in a 38-km deep-water stretch of the route, located in German territorial waters. Once the first line is layed, Audacia will return to the start point to lay the second line. Audacia's work on Nord Stream 2 is scheduled for completion by the end of 2018. When fully completed, Nord Stream 2 will transport up to 55Bn m3 of Russian gas 1,230 km via the Baltic Sea to the European market each year, enough to supply 26M households.
Built in 2005, Audacia has a length of 327 m, a breadth of 32 m and an operating draught of between 9-10 m. Propulsion comes from seven 5,000-kW Wärtsilä retractable azimuth thrusters and the vessel has a dynamic positioning class of DP3 from its Kongsberg SDP-22 system. Combined with the bow-mounted stinger, this allows for safer working in congested areas and pipelaying in deep waters.
Audacia can lay pipes ranging from 2 to 60 inches in diameter. Its firing line has seven single-joint welding stations, a non-destructive test station and three coating stations. The main deck has a pipe cargo capacity of 12,000 tonnes. Lifting equipment includes a special purpose crane with a capacity of 150 tonnes at a 16-m main hoist, a pipe-transfer crane of 30 tonnes at a 30-m main hoist, a 30-tonne gantry crane with a rail length of 75 m above the stinger and a dual A-frame with a capacity of 550 tonnes.
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