Page 6 - FSUOGM Week 32

FSUOGM COMMENTARY FSUOGM

US threatens sanctions against

German port for assisting with

Nord Stream 2

Both Germany and the European Commission are looking at measures to shield

businesses from potential US punitive action

GERMANY US lawmakers have threatened “crushing legal early 2021, more than a year behind schedule.
and economic sanctions” against a small Ger- Russia has two pipelaying vessels on standby
WHAT: man port if it assists Russian vessels in complet- in northern Europe. The first, Akademik Cher-
US lawmakers have ing the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. skiy, is moored off Mukran. Until recently it
threaten Germany's In a letter, Republican Senators Ted Cruz, belonged to Gazprom’s shipping arm Gaz-
Mukran port with Tom Cotton and Ron Johnson accused the prom Flot, although Russia’s RBC news agency
sanctions. Mukran port operator of “knowingly providing reported last week that the ship had been trans-
significant goods, services and support” for the ferred to an entity called Samara Heat and
WHY: project. Over the years, Mukran has served as a Energy Property Fund, whose beneficiaries are
German officials say this logistic and service centre for vessels working on unknown.
is no way to act with an Nord Stream 2. Gazprom has also been using the It is understood that this step was taken to
ally. port to store pipes. protect Gazprom from any potential further
A first round of US sanctions against Nord sanctions.
WHAT NEXT: Stream 2 was introduced in December last year, The second vessel, Fortuna, is leased by Rus-
Sanctions could prove forcing Swiss contractor Allseas to halt pipelay- sian offshore pipeline specialist MRTS, although
ineffectual, simply ing activities. Russia is planning to use its own its ultimate owner is unknown. It is currently
souring US-EU ties. vessels to complete the remaining 6% of the pipe- stationed at the German port of Rostock, but
line’s offshore section. Moscow now hopes to see according to RBC, MRTS will not use the ship
Nord Stream 2 start pumping gas to Germany in through fear of incurring Washington’s wrath.

P6 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 32 12•August•2020