Lamantin Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

In a strategic move to apply additional pressure on Russia while avoiding tensions with Germany, the United States has sanctioned the vessel 'Marlin' due to its role in the construction of the contentious Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. In a report submitted to Congress on November 22, 2021, the Biden administration identified Transadria Ltd., a Cyprus-based company perceived as a Russian shell entity, as being associated with the activities involving the 'Marlin', Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced. The sanctions come at a pivotal time, as the Nord Stream 2 project's construction was completed in September, and the first of its two lines is currently filled with gas. Interestingly, another vessel known as the 'Blue Ship' was also noted for its involvement in the pipeline's construction; however, it escaped sanctions due to its ownership by an entity linked to the German government. This latest round of sanctions demonstrates the U.S. commitment to opposing the Nord Stream 2 project, which it has opposed for years, while aiming to tread cautiously in its diplomatic relations with German officials who are keen to see the pipeline operational. Furthermore, the two vessels were included in a quarterly report to Congress, in accordance with a legislative framework established in 2020, intended to impede or halt the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.