The offshore pipeline microtunnel for the FSRU has reached its target length
GAZ-SYSTEM has successfully finalised a highly challenging engineering milestone in the construction of the offshore FSRU terminal project involving over one-kilometre long subsea microtunnel for the gas pipeline. Completed nearly a month ahead of schedule, the work progressed smoothly without any major technical issues.
- The new FSRU in the Gulf of Gdańsk will enhance Poland’s access to the global LNG market and strengthen the domestic transmission infrastructure. This is crucial not only for diversification of supply sources but, more importantly, to enable flexible gas security management in volatile market conditions. We are developing the necessary infrastructure to unlock the potential of the Polish coastline, positioning it as a principal entry point for gas imports towards Central and Eastern Europe. Boring an 1,100-metre long microtunnel under the coastal strip, the beach, and seabed in the Gulf of Gdańsk demonstrates the technical complexity of this project and the high precision of its execution. This is another step towards the planned commissioning of the terminal in 2028, stressed Miłosz Motyka, Minister of Energy.
- Each completed milestone brings us closer to commissioning of the FSRU Terminal designed to expand LNG import capacity for Poland and neighbouring countries. Delivering the microtunnel ahead of schedule is a joint success of our project team and the Polish construction company. Driven by the professional coordination of the development process, we are successfully integrating specialized expertise and advanced technology while preserving local environment and meeting our project deadline, noted Sławomir Hinc, President of GAZ SYSTEM Management Board.
Over one-kilometre-long tunnel without any disruption to the surrounding beach or dunes
The microtunnel was constructed using the trenchless method with a Herrenknecht AVND 2000 AB tunnel boring machine. This method enables the pipeline to be installed underground without any open trenches. Measuring approximately 2.5 metres in diameter, the tunnel was reinforced with 376 precast reinforced concrete pipes which, together with the sealing system, form its primary load-bearing structure. A total of 5,744 cubic metres of excavated material was removed during the operation.The use of trenchless method preserved the beach and coastal zone at Górki Zachodnie, leaving them fully accessible to tourists and locals regardless of the ongoing construction work. The precise execution of the microtunneling works ensured total alignment with the planned shore crossing. Consequently, design modifications during construction were avoided, allowing for efficient pipeline installation in strict compliance with technical specifications and the project schedule.
Microtunnel prepared for the subsea gas pipeline installation
The tunnel is not a standalone element of the transmission infrastructure. Its objective is to establish a secure corridor for the installation of the subsea gas pipeline and associated infrastructure connecting the FSRU terminal directly to the onshore gas network. The microtunnel will protect the underground pipeline beneath the beach and the seabed of the Gulf of Gdańsk in the coastal strip and will enable the installation of fibre-optic cables and other associated infrastructure alongside the gas pipeline.‘Basia’ - Tunnel Boring Machine designed to operate in challenging conditions
The Herrenknecht AVND 2000 AB is a 12.5-metre-long machine consisting of four segments. Weighing 42 tonnes, the cutter head is the heaviest single part of the machine. To meet the unique project requirements, the machine was retrofitted with a sea recovery system, ensuring its safe retrieval from the Gulf of Gdańsk seabed upon completion of the tunneling works. Recovery operation from the microtunnel will require complex subsea diving procedures, after which the machine will be hoisted to the surface using heavy-lift crane vessels.Follow-up on the offshore FSRU project
Prior to pipeline installation in the tunnel, the completed structure needs to be stabilised within the surrounding ground, followed by fitting the temporary bulkhead seal at the offshore end of the tunnel, deployment of auxiliary systems, and preparing the TBM for recovery operation. The interior of the microtunnel will also be outfitted with necessary components to ensure the safety of the subsea pipeline and maintain its planned installation trajectory.Completion of all offshore project components is scheduled for next year, and the FSRU vessel is expected to arrive and moor in the Gulf of Gdańsk at the end of 2027.
About the FSRU terminal
The FSRU Terminal in the Gulf of Gdańsk is among strategic investment projects implemented by GAZ SYSTEM, devised to bolster Poland’s energy resilience and diversify the sources of natural gas supply. The scope of this project entails the construction of a floating LNG terminal along with offshore and onshore infrastructure, enabling the unloading, in-process storage and regasification of liquefied natural gas delivered by sea.Liquefied gas received and regasified at the FSRU terminal will be fed directly into the domestic transmission network to be distributed to customers in Poland and the neighbouring countries. This project is a critical component in the domestic transmission infrastructure expansion process to enhance the resilience of the Polish gas market.
The FSRU Terminal in the Gulf of Gdańsk is to serve as a major pillar of the regional gas hub in Poland. Commercial regasification operations at the facility are scheduled to commence in early 2028.
