Hamburg court rejects Polish complaint against Nord Stream

The administrative court in Hamburg on Thursday rejected a Nord Stream complaint against the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany (BSH) filed by the Administration of Sea Ports in Szczecin and Swinoujscie (north-western Poland).

The court did not present any reasons behind the rejection of the complaint. The Polish side announced that it would decide whether to appeal after it had received the justification of today's ruling.

The Russian-German Nord Stream pipeline is built under the Baltic Sea at a depth that seriously hinders the expansion of the Polish sea ports in Szczecin and Swinoujscie, according to the plaintiff.

The Administration of Sea Ports in Szczecin and Swinoujscie demands that the pipeline be buried deeper at the crossing with the northern sea route which leads to the Swinoujscie port but is located in German waters. Currently the port can only accept vessels with a maximum draught of 13.5 metres and the Polish side wants it to be accessible to bigger ships with a draught of 15 metres.

The BSH issued a permit to place the pipeline at the current depth. The Administration of Sea Ports in Szczecin and Swinoujscie filed the complaint against the BSH decision in 2011. The Nord Stream company plans to lay two more gas pipelines on the Baltic's bottom, referred to as Nord Stream 2. (PAP)

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