Allseas’ Solitaire, the world’s largest pipelay vessel, has started to lay the Gulf of Finland section of the 1,224 kilometre Nord Stream natural gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea. Nord Stream’s Deputy Director Construction Ruurd Hoekstra and Leo D. Varkevisser, Allseas’ Vice President Projects and Operations, arrived on board the Solitaire to confirm that everything is on schedule and “all systems go” for the start of construction.

Before starting its journey to Russian waters, the Solitaire was adapted to Nord Stream’s requirements in Rotterdam, where each piece of equipment was thoroughly tested in port.