Washington has expanded sanctions against Russia under the federal Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The Nord Stream 2 pipelayer Fortuna was blacklisted. This was reported on the website of the US Treasury Department on Tuesday, January 19.
The restrictions were also extended to the Rustanker company and the oil tankers Maxim Gorky and Sierra.
On the eve of the media reported that the US government is going to impose restrictions against the pipelayer “SP – 2”.
Project operator Nord Stream 2 AG declined to comment on the potential impact of the sanctions on the Fortuna barge.
The Kremlin said it was taking steps to consistently complete the project despite illegal US sanctions.
The Swiss company Zurich Insurance Group announced plans to stop providing insurance services for work related to the construction of the Russian pipeline due to restrictions.
In addition, the media reported that the German concern Bilfinger Se refused to participate in the construction of the gas pipeline due to possible US sanctions.
Nord Stream 2 is being built from Russia to Germany along the bottom of the Baltic Sea with the aim of direct and reliable gas supplies to Europe. The EU countries mainly support the project and participate in its implementation. The USA, the Baltic states, Poland and Ukraine are against.