Media representatives from Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Poland and Germany came to Helsinki harbour for a visit on the research vessels Franklin, Pollux and Triad. The three boats are currently working in the Gulf of Finland to complete Nord Stream’s detailed seabed survey. After an introduction to the pipeline project, the journalists were guided around the vessels for a comprehensive overview, from the bridge to the survey rooms. On deck, the equipment in use was introduced: the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) with underwater cameras, magnetometer array and side scan sonar on the Pollux, sub bottom profiler and multi-beam echo sounder on the Franklin. With this modern equipment, Nord Stream is conducting what is likely to be the most extensive survey of a defined path ever across the Baltic Sea.
The demonstrations of data transmission, which were set up in the control rooms of both the Pollux and Franklin, took centre stage. Media representatives took great interest in Nord Stream's efforts to minimise the environmental impact and its policy regarding munitions related findings. In the afternoon, Pollux and Triad performed manoeuvres in Helsinki South Harbour.
Nord Stream’s spokespersons Sebastian Sass, Permitting Manager, Simon Bonnell, Senior Project Engineer, and Ola Oskarsson, CEO of Marin Mätteknik AB (MMT), Nord Stream’s contractor in charge of the 2007 survey, answered questions on environmental and political aspects and also discussed technical issues of the project.
