In the bottom of the Baydaratskaya Bay west from Yamal the Netherland offshore dredging company Van Oord layed a gaspipeline and Geo Plus assisted in this project under vere difficult circomstances. Gazprom the big russian energy giant has begun exploiting the enormous gasfields of the peninsula Yamal. Gazprom want to transport the natural gas via their pipelines in the mainland and the Northstream pipeline through the Baltic Sea to Germany and further to other European countries.
The peninsula Yamal is a vere young geological area, containing the biggest gasreserves of the Russian republic.
The local inhabitants of Yamal (means: End of the world) earns a living in herding huge amounts of reindeer (estimated 500.000). The peninsula is also an important place for migratory birds.
The Baydaratskaja Bay is approximately 180 km. long, 78 km breed and 20 metres deep. Watertemperature in the short summer is 5-6 degrees, so there is only very short time for effectively working.
The Geo Solution is a special ship for hydrography and tenderservice. During the trip to Yamal the Geo Solution is placed in cradle on the deck of the mothership "Utrecht" of Van Oord. This ship of Geo Plus Netherlands has all the capabilities for these kind of jobs.
The Geo-Solution shuttling between the big dredgers in the Baydaratskaya Bay in Northern Russia. Late autumn 2009.
Late October the pipe-laying job in the Baydaratskaja Bay is finished and the frosty Geo-Solution was placed in cradle on the deck of the Utrecht (Van Oord) ready for the backtrip to the Netherlands. Arrival November 14 2009.
The long trip to the North Russian peninsula Yamal.