All news from the Swedish Coast Guard's published about the leaks
27 September 2022 20:07
The gas leak from the Nord Stream gas pipeline measures over 950 meters in diameter.
All published news about the gas leaks in the Baltic published by the Swedish Coast Guard.
The gas leaks are no longer visible
Updated on October 14.
The Swedish Coast Guard's latest overflight of the the Swedish economic zone in the Baltic Sea confirm that the Nord Stream pipelines' leaks are no longer visible on the sea surface.
_______________________________
The closure of waters initiated by the Prosecutor’s Office has now been lifted, the Swedish Coast Guard returns to its ordinary duties
Updated on October 6.
At 19.00 Wednesday evening the Swedish Armed Forces support to the Swedish Coast Guard came to an end. Today at 13.00 the Prosecutor decided to end the closure of the area around the two gas leaks in the Swedish Economic Zone. According to the latest aircraft observations at 10 am the remaining leak is unchanged. Due to this the Swedish Coast Guard will return to its ordinary work within environmental emergency preparedness and other duties.
Due to the Prosecutor’s decision to end the closure, the Swedish Coast Guard can now end the patrolling of the areas around the gas leaks in order to enforce and secure the decision. This means that the situation in Swedish waters is now back to normal.
To ensure safe passage in accordance to maritime traffic rules, in and around the areas close to the gas leaks, the Swedish Coast Guard will continue to be slightly more active in patrolling this part of the Baltic. This is within the scope of the authority’s ordinary work within environmental preparedness and maritime surveillance.
Due to the size of the leak, and the fact that it has not increased during the past four days, consequently the risk of accidents has also diminished, and the Swedish Coast Guard has also ended its specific rescue mission as the criteria in the national legislation connected to accidents and emergency preparedness (LSO) do not apply to the current situation.
The support given to the Swedish Coast Guard from the Swedish Armed Forces has also come to an end. The Swedish Coast Guard will continue to regularly assist both the Prosecutor’s Office and the Swedish Security Services.
– Several authorities have been working together with great intensity in unusual and very special circumstances. This has worked out very well, in fact exactly as well as it should in these circumstances. What we have managed to achieve, are currently achieving, and the result of this work is part of the ongoing preliminary investigation, says Mikael Furberg, Coast Guard Officer in charge of emergency preparedness.
– The Swedish Coast Guard will continue to monitor Swedish waters, just as usual. We will continue to assist the preliminary investigation when approached by the Prosecutors Office or the Swedish Security Services, says Mikael Furberg.
The Swedish Coast Guard ship KBV 003 Amfitrite has now left the area. The Coast Guard ship KBV 002 Triton is now patrolling.
Questions concerning the preliminary investigation will be answered by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Swedish Security Services.
The Swedish Maritime Authority will publish information connected to navigational warnings on its website.
_______________________________
The gas leaks in the South Baltic
Updated on October 5.
The remaining gas leak in Swedish waters, the one defined as “the smaller leak”, is still on-going, but giving the impression that it is decreasing. The size today Wednesday is slightly smaller and surfacing with a diameter of approximately 15-18 metres.
The Swedish Coast Guard is still patrolling the area 24/7.
Due to the decision of the Prosecutor’s Office of closing off an area of five nautical miles of access, the Swedish Coast Guard is maintaining the closure the area in order to create a reasonable working situation during the preliminary investigation. The decision of the Prosecutor’s Office applies until further notice, and means that it is prohibited within this area to navigate a vessel, anchor, dive, fish, navigate an underwater vessel or carry out geophysical mapping.
The Swedish Coast Guard is able to take certain measures within the closed area, similar to the jurisdiction the authority has in Swedish territorial waters. It is therefore possible for the Swedish Coast Guard to intervene against those who are in the closed off area without permission.
The on-going preliminary investigation is led by a prosecutor, the responsible authority for the investigation is the Swedish Security Services.
The Swedish Coast Guard cannot comment the work being done regarding the gas leaks, more than what we already have published on our website.
The Swedish Maritime Authority has issued navigational warnings for the area, consisting of recommendations concerning distances to the gas leaks aimed at the maritime traffic. The current warnings are published on the website.
_______________________________
The gas leaks in the South Baltic
Updated on October 4.
The situation above the smaller gas leak in Swedish waters is today Tuesday unchanged. The leak is on-going and surfacing in a circular area with a radius of approximately 20 metres. This is based on the latest aircraft observations carried out at 11 am, Tuesday.
Due to the Prosecutors Office decision of blocking an area of access of five nautical miles from the incident. The Swedish Coast Guard is currently patrolling and monitoring maritime traffic close to the prohibited area in order to maintain order during the work that is now being done. The decision means it is prohibited to navigate a vessel, anchor, dive, fish, navigate an underwater vessel or carry out geophysical mapping within this area.
The on-going preliminary investigation is led by a prosecutor, the responsible authority for the investigation is the Swedish Security Services.
The Swedish Coast Guard cannot comment the work being done regarding the gas leaks, more than what we already have published on our website.
The Swedish Maritime Authority has issued navigational warnings for the area, consisting of recommendations concerning distances to the gas leaks aimed at the maritime traffic. The current warnings are published on the website.
_______________________________
No significant changes are reported concerning the gas leaks
Updated on October 3.
During a flight over the gas leaks at 18.00 Monday evening the leak previously described as the larger leak originating from North Stream 1 was still not visible on the surface of the sea. During the same flight observation one could see that the leak from North Stream 2 was now approximately 15-20 metres in diameter. This indicates that there is still an on-going leak, even if it is a small one.
During the afternoon the Swedish Coast Guard have executed the Prosecutor’s Office decision to restrict access to an area of five nautical miles from the leaks. It is within this area prohibited to navigate a vessel, anchor, dive, fish, navigate an underwater vessel or carry out geophysical mapping.
The on-going preliminary investigation is led by a prosecutor, the responsible authority for the investigation is the Swedish Security Services.
The Swedish Coast Guard cannot comment the work being done regarding the gas leaks, more than what we already have published on our website.
The Swedish Maritime Authority has issued navigational warnings for the area, consisting of recommendations concerning distances to the gas leaks aimed at the maritime traffic. The current warnings are published on the website.
_______________________________
The gas leaks in the Baltics – update Monday
Updated on October 3.
The larger leak is now no longer visible on the surface while the smaller one instead has increased slightly.
On Monday, the Swedish Coast Guard made an overflight of the locations of the leaks within the Swedish economic zone at around 8 o'clock in the morning. At that time, the larger leak was no longer visible on the surface, while the smaller one instead had increased slightly again. At that time, the smaller leak was approximately 30 metres in diameter.
The prognoses – based on the on-going discussion with North Stream – stated earlier that the leaks will possibly cease on Sunday. Those prognoses can therefore be said to apply to the larger one, originating from Nord Stream 1. The smaller one from Nord Stream 2 is instead slightly larger than yeaterday. The Swedish Coast Guard is prepared within emergency preparedness for a longer perspective.
The Swedish Maritime Authority has issued navigational warnings for the area, consisting of recommendations concerning distances to the gas leaks aimed at the maritime traffic. The current warnings are published on the website.
The on-going preliminary investigation is led by a prosecutor, the responsible authority for the investigation is the Swedish Security Services. We cannot comment this investigation in detail as there is confidentiality connected to the preliminary investigation.
We are also restrictive in commenting our general capacity as it can be of importance in other areas we work within. We are in contact with Danish authorities due to the fact that there are two similar gas leaks in Danish waters. We will not comment any other nations we are in contact with.
The Swedish Coast Guard is still on-site within Swedish waters with the ship KBV 003 Amfitrite. The main focus of Amfritrite is;
- Monitoring of the leaks
- Monitoring the sea traffic in the areas of the leaks
- Emergency preparedness in assistance of maritime traffic.
When something new occurs, the information will be published on the Swedish Coast Guard website. The pictures already available on the website are for public use.
_______________________________
Extensive cooperation between authorities concerning the gas leaks from North Stream 1&2
Updated on October 2.
The on-going preliminary investigation is led by a prosecutor, the responsible authority for the investigation is the Swedish Security Services. The Swedish Coast Guard assist the prosecutor and the Swedish Security Services when demanded. We cannot comment this investigation in detail as there is confidentiality connected to the preliminary investigation.
The Swedish Armed Forces will support the Swedish Coast Guard within the scope of work connected to the gas leaks originating from North Stream 1&2 in Swedish waters.
The Swedish Coast Guard is still on-site within Swedish waters with the ship KBV 003 Amfitrite. The main focus of Amfritrite is;
- Monitoring of the leaks
- Monitoring the sea traffic in the areas of the leaks
- Emergency preparedness in assistance of maritime traffic.
The Swedish Coast Guard aircraft are patrolling the area, and continuously reporting any changes in the intensity and range of the gas leaks.
During the days ahead, bad weather is expected, which will complicate the conditions of our work on site.
Questions connected to the support received from the Swedish Armed Forces will be answered by the Head of Communications of the Naval Base in Sweden.
The prosecutor and the Swedish Security Services will answer questions concerning the preliminary investigations regarding the gas leaks.
_______________________________
The gas leaks in the Baltic continue to diminish
Updated on October 1.
On Saturday, the Swedish Coast Guard made an overflight of the locations of the leaks within the Swedish economic zone at around 4.30 pm. At that time, the larger leak was approximately 100 metres in diameter and the smaller leak 15 metres in diameter.
The prognoses – based on the on-going discussion with North Stream – says that the leaks will possibly cease on Sunday. The Swedish Coast Guard is prepared within emergency preparedness for a longer perspective than Sunday.
The Swedish Maritime Authority has issued navigational warnings for the area, consisting of recommendations concerning distances to the gas leaks aimed at the maritime traffic. The current warnings are published on the website.
The on-going preliminary investigation is led by a prosecutor, the responsible authority for the investigation is the Swedish Security Services. We cannot comment this investigation in detail as there is confidentiality connected to the preliminary investigation.
We are also restrictive in commenting our general capacity as it can be of importance in other areas we work within. We are in contact with Danish authorities due to the fact that there are two similar gas leaks in Danish waters. We will not comment any other nations we are in contact with.
The Swedish Coast Guard is still on-site within Swedish waters with the ship KBV 003 Amfitrite. The main focus of Amfritrite is;
- Monitoring of the leaks
- Monitoring the sea traffic in the areas of the leaks
- Emergency preparedness in assistance of maritime traffic.
When something new occurs, the information will be published on the Swedish Coast Guard website. The pictures already available on the website are for public use.
_______________________________
Concerning the gas leaks in the South Baltic – update Friday
Updated on September 30.
Both leaks have reduced in their intensity.
The Swedish Coast Guard aircraft report the following;
- The smaller leak continues to diminish since the aircraft observation report from Thursday. The smaller leak has a diameter of approximately 20 metres.
- The larger leak has also diminished after being quite unchanged since reported. The leak now has a diameter of approximately 600 metres.
The prognoses – based on the on-going discussion with North Stream - says that the leaks will possibly cease on Sunday. The Coast Guard is prepared within emergency preparedness for a longer perspective than Sunday.
The Swedish Maritime Authority has issued navigational warnings for the area, consisting of recommendations concerning distances to the gas leaks aimed at the maritime traffic. The current warnings are published on the website.
The on-going preliminary investigation is led by a prosecutor, the responsible authority for the investigation is the Swedish Security Services. We cannot comment this investigation in detail as there is confidentiality connected to the preliminary investigation.
We are also restrictive in commenting our general capacity as it can be of importance in other areas we work within. We are in contact with Danish authorities due to the fact that there are two similar gas leaks in Danish waters. We will not comment any other nations we are in contact with.
The Swedish Coast Guard is still on-site within Swedish waters with the ship KBV 003 Amfirite. The main focus of Amfritrite is;
- Monitoring of the leaks
- Monitoring the sea traffic in the areas of the leaks
- Emergency preparedness in assistance of maritime traffic.
When something new occurs, the information will be published on the Swedish Coast Guard website. The pictures already available on the website are for public use.
_______________________________
Update on the current situation concerning the gas leak in the Baltic
Updated on September 30.
A change has been observed concerning the smaller of the two leaks in Swedish waters, the leak surfacing above North Stream 2. The leak has diminished, but is still on-going. This is an observation reported by the Swedish Coast Guard’s aircraft.
Thera are two leaks in Swedish waters, a large one above North Stream 1, and a lesser one above North Stream 2. Two leaks have also been reported from Danish waters. The number of detected leaks is therefore unchanged since Monday evening.
The Swedish Coast Guard will not comment the movements of specific vessels in the area of the gas leak as it would compromise the on-going preliminary investigation carried out by the prosecutors’ office and the investigation led by the Swedish Security Service.
Measures carried out by among many others; the Swedish Maritime Authority is currently delivering navigational warnings to ships in order to now secure a distance of seven nautical miles (previously five nautical miles, but adjusted 2022-09-29, 7.34 pm) from the incident areas.
The Swedish Coast Guard is on-site close to the gas leaks 24/7 with the ship KBV 003 Amfitrite. The mission is as previously stated; to monitor the gas leaks and ensure that the maritime traffic in the area has a safe and sure passage. The ship is also equipped for environmental emergency preparedness.
The Swedish Coast Guard is obligated to assist in a preliminary investigation when a prosecutor requests assistance. This also means that the authority is in several areas concerning the gas leaks, obliged to act in accordance with the rules of confidentiality.
The Swedish Coast Guard’s communication office is currently under a lot of pressure and we therefore appeal to your consideration and understanding in that an answer can currently take some time to answer. Our website will be continuously up-dated with new information, and all questions will be answered in order and due course.
_______________________________
Current situation working on the Nord Stream’s gas leak
Updated on September 28.
The Swedish Coast Guard is working on the ongoing environmental rescue operation. At the same time, we assist police and prosecutors in their work with the investigations.
- The situation has not changed since the gas leak was discovered.
- Since Tuesday afternoon, our ship KBV 003 Amfitrite is in a position close to the two leaks in the Swedish economic zone. KBV 003 Amphitrite has the ability to operate in a contaminated environment, for example, a gas cloud.
- The security measures taken so far are adequate according to the Swedish Coast Guard. The same applies for our own presence on the site.
- The crew reports that the gas leak on the surface is constant. On board the ship, the crew has two main tasks:
- Monitor the leak to see if it is decreasing or increasing
- Assist ships to secure maritime traffic
- The Swedish Coast Guard has strengthened the capability on board the KBV 003 with rescue divers. Their task is to assist potential accident victims, not to work on the actual leak itself.
- A preliminary investigation is led by a prosecutor. The police authority is investigating and has requested assistance from the Swedish Coast Guard for such measures where the Swedish Coast Guard's skills, equipment and resources can be used for the benefit of the investigation
- The Swedish Coast Guard is also in close contact with other relevant authorities, in Sweden as well as abroad
- The Swedish Coast Guard can not comment on other authorities' possible ship movements
- The Swedish Coast Guard can not give more specific details about the investigation
- The Swedish Coast Guard can confirm that contact has been established with representatives of Nord Stream.
- The Swedish Coast Guard publishes images and video on its website when such material is available.
In general, the Swedish Coast Guard has the ability and experience to secure evidence in the marine environment, including under water. Examples of interventions can be:
- Investigations with divers to a depth of 40 meters.
- Surveys with remote-controlled underwater craft to a depth of 300 meters
- Circumstances in general such as weather, conditions on the bottom and so on affect the conditions for underwater investigation, says rescue manager Jimmie Broth.
_______________________________
The Swedish Coast Guard's role in relation to the leaking gas pipelines
Updated on September 27.
In its environmental rescue mission, the Swedish Coast Guard's has the responsibility to combat releases of oil and other harmful substances at sea, which includes gas. Based on the current situation, it is not possible to limit or combat the release, but the gas dissolves little by little into both the water and the air. Given that the gas dissolves relatively quickly, the concentration and thus also the risks are reduced. The release itself is visible on the sea surface as a bubbling underwater plume and amounts to approx. 900 meters in diameter.
An environmental rescue operation has been started and the Swedish Coast Guard's combination vessel KBV 003 Amfitrite will be in close proximity to the area and our aircraft is continuously patrolling the position.
The measures taken by, among other things, the Swedish Maritime Administration are to issue navigational warnings to ships to keep a safe distance of five nautical miles from the areas.
- Our focus is to have a visual control over the release itself. We assist shipping by following the navigational warnings, not getting too close to the spill and have a preparedness for a worsening situation. In parallel with this, we assist the Police Authority in their investigation, says rescue manager Jimmie Broth.
The Swedish Coast Guard will publish updates on an ongoing basis.
Changed 29 September 2022 09:46