US details sanctions against Nord Stream 2 ships

The US administration will impose sanctions on 13 vessels it says are associated with construction of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline from Russia to German, even though Washington decided not to target the project itself.

The US Treasury Department today added icebreakers the Vladislav Strizhov and the Yury Topchev to a sanctions list of entities prohibited from dealing with US banks and companies. Another 12 vessels owned and operated by Russia's Marine Rescue Service, including the Akademik Cherskiy, were placed on a less restrictive sanctions list, which would prohibits US companies from providing goods and services to them.

Russia's Marine Rescue Service likewise was placed on that less restrictive sanctions list, and Treasury concurrently issued an authorization allowing US companies to maintain previous business relations with it so long as they are not associated with construction of the 55bn m³/yr Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Also appearing on that list is Russia-based Samara Heat and Energy property fund and charterer Mostransservice, although the Treasury did not detail their association with Nord Stream 2.

The sanctions against the vessels are largely symbolic as the vessels are Russian-owned and flagged and are expected to continue pipelaying operations.

President Joe Biden's administration on 19 May decided to waive sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany out of respect for Berlin's unwavering support for the project.

Pipelaying work on Nord Stream 2 is ongoing in Danish waters, where only about 93km of total pipeline is still to be laid. Work has not restarted yet in German waters, where 28km remains to be installed. A German government agency earlier this week authorized Gazprom to restart undersea pipe-laying works on a short section of Nord Stream 2.

By Haik Gugarats