NS2 Vessel Bound for Mozambique

Gazprom's Akademik Cherskiy pipelaying vessel, which Russia indicated last year would be able to finish the sanctioned Nord Stream 2 pipeline, is now heading towards Mozambique's capital Maputo, tracking data provided by Marine Traffic and Vesselfinder show.

The vessel, which left the Russian Far East in February, is currently in the western Indian Ocean and is approaching the Strait of Mozambique. It is due to arrive at Maputo on March 23.

The Akademik Cherskiy previously set a course for Suez, and had been expected there on March 25. Earlier it set courses for Singapore and Sri Lanka.

Russian energy minister Alexander Novak said in November that Akademic Cherskiy would be able to complete Nord Stream 2 if Western companies were unable to do so. In late December, Swiss contractor Allseas halted work on the project because of US sanctions, with just 6% of the pipeline left to lay.

Gazprom on February 10 selected an unidentified contractor to install welding and technical equipment on the vessel.