You're reading: Report: Russia’s outdated construction fleet in Nord Stream 2 may lead to catastrophe

Russia’s use of outdated vessels to build its controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline could lead to a catastrophe, according to a report by Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service published on April 2.

Russia is forced to use its decaying fleet because economic sanctions against the project discouraged other participants. This creates an ecological disaster risk, the intelligence service stated.  

“The use of technologically obsolete vessels and equipment in the future increases the likelihood of a man-made disaster with environmental consequences on a regional scale at any peak load,” the report reads.

Of the six vessels working on the project, the Katun is in the worst shape. It’s been under repair in the port of Munkebo, Denmark since March 16 and its hull and controls are in dire need of repair. 

This is not the first time the pipeline raised ecological concerns. 

In 2018, Greenpeace and other environmental groups accused Nord Stream 2 of polluting Germany’s Baltic coast with toxic grease found on beaches and in the sea. 

People living near the Bay of Greifswald in northeastern Germany reportedly started telling authorities in June about “tennis ball-sized” lumps of pink-purple oil washing ashore, some of it into areas covered by the European Union’s Natura 2000 environmental protection program.

The last country to pause the project due to environmental concerns was Denmark. It has since allowed the pipeline to proceed.  

In the event of an ecological disaster, it will be Denmark and Sweden that will suffer the most, James Wilson, director of the nonprofit International Foundation for Better Governance, wrote in an opinion piece for the publication EU Today.

Russia has renewed construction at the beginning of the year despite the dangers and sanctions from the US.

According to Nord Stream 2, the pipeline is 95% complete. About 121 kilometers are left to be built and Russia is rushing to finish the project.

If completed, Nord Stream 2 would allow Russia to bypass Ukraine when transporting an annual 110 billion cubic meters to European countries through Germany, depriving Ukraine of at least $1.5 billion in transit fees per year.