World’s biggest submarine pipeline plough put to work

Hydro International -

The world’s biggest submarine pipeline plough, PL3, arrived on 8th February in the Baltic Sea on the deck of mother ship Far Samson.

The subsea plough will be used to entrench the Nord Stream Pipeline in Swedish and Danish waters. Lowering of the pipeline below seabed level using PL3 ensures that the pipeline will remain stable in its position throughout its lifetime.

Ploughing of the first pipeline is scheduled to be performed at several locations along the pipeline route between early February and mid-March, 2011.

Model simulations have shown that ploughing will have no significant impact on flora and fauna as sediments will settle quickly.

As part of its environmental monitoring programme, Nord Stream will monitor the water quality before, during and after trenching to confirm that the results of the model simulation are correct and that Nord Stream is fulfilling permit requirements.

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