Malte Humpert

Malte Humpert is an investigative journalist for gCaptain and High North News, and Senior Fellow at The Arctic Institute, which he founded in 2011. Based in Tahoe City, California, his research focuses on Arctic geopolitics, Northern Sea Route shipping, and China's interests in the polar region. He was the first journalist to report on Maersk's historic 2018 container ship voyage through the Arctic. His analysis has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and The Economist. Malte holds a Master's degree in European Studies from Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service.


Monday, October 19, 2026
Northern Sea Route Transits Surpass 2025 Total as Arctic Shipping Gains Momentum
News

Northern Sea Route Transits Surpass 2025 Total as Arctic Shipping Gains Momentum

The number of commercial transit voyages through Russia’s Northern Sea Route (NSR) had already surpassed the full-year 2025 total by the end of September,

October 19, 2026
Total Views: 966

Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Royal Navy’s Only Ice Patrol Ship Faces Uncertain Future After Defect
Incidents

Royal Navy’s Only Ice Patrol Ship Faces Uncertain Future After Defect

The Royal Navy’s only dedicated ice patrol ship has been towed from Teesside to Devonport following a reported defect, raising questions about Britain’s

October 14, 2026
Total Views: 1823

Tuesday, October 13, 2026
South Korean President Hails Arctic Container Shipping Trial, but Commercial and Sanctions Questions Remain
Shipping

South Korean President Hails Arctic Container Shipping Trial, but Commercial and Sanctions Questions Remain

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung welcomed the PanStar Acro and its crew home on Tuesday after the container ship completed the country’s first round-trip

October 13, 2026
Total Views: 618

Friday, October 9, 2026
EU Imports Record 12.18 Million Tonnes of Russian Arctic LNG
Energy

EU Imports Record 12.18 Million Tonnes of Russian Arctic LNG

Europe's estimated bill reaches €7.88 billion through September as U.S. sanctions deadline adds uncertainty for Yamal's specialized tanker

October 9, 2026
Total Views: 1017

Thursday, October 8, 2026
A drone view shows the Russian-flagged tanker Bratsk, under U.S. sanctions for links to the Russian state-owned shipping company Sovcomflot, in Baniyas
Shipping

UK Sanctions 12 More ‘Shadow-Fleet’ Tankers as Russia’s Arctic Traffic Grows

The United Kingdom on Thursday sanctioned 12 oil tankers it identified as part of Russia's shadow fleet, including the 22-year-old Dakar that is currently

October 8, 2026
Total Views: 600

Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Sanctioned 22-Year-Old Tanker Makes Rare Late-Season Arctic Voyage
Shipping

Sanctioned 22-Year-Old Tanker Makes Rare Late-Season Arctic Voyage

A 22-year-old product tanker sanctioned by the European Union is making an unusual late-season voyage along Russia's Northern Sea Route, highlighting the

October 7, 2026
Total Views: 1770

China Completes First Season of Regular Arctic Container Service
Shipping

China Completes First Season of Regular Arctic Container Service

China has completed the first season of regular weekly container shipping between China and Europe via the Northern Sea Route, with the operator completing all

October 7, 2026
Total Views: 1808

Tuesday, October 6, 2026
South Korean Operator Emerges as New Force in Arctic LNG Shipping
News

South Korean Operator Emerges as New Force in Arctic LNG Shipping

New company takes on four Arc4 LNG carriers as Seoul looks to expand Busan’s role in Arctic shipping. A newly established South Korean ship manager is

October 6, 2026
Total Views: 2897

Monday, October 5, 2026
NSR escort July 2024
Shipping

Shadow Fleet Traffic on Northern Sea Route Surges as Arctic Safety Concerns Grow

The number of shadow-fleet vessels carrying Russian oil and LNG through the Northern Sea Route has surged this summer, according to a new analysis by the

October 5, 2026
Total Views: 4015

Thursday, October 1, 2026
LNG carrier Alexey Kosygin sea trials
News

UK Sanctions Five LNG Carriers in New Russia Package

The United Kingdom has sanctioned five liquefied natural gas carriers as part of a new package of measures targeting Russia's efforts to expand a maritime

October 1, 2026
Total Views: 905

Tuesday, September 29, 2026
First U.S. Arctic Security Cutter Takes Shape in Finland as Second Approaches Construction
Defense

First U.S. Arctic Security Cutter Takes Shape in Finland as Second Approaches Construction

Rauma Marine Constructions in Finland has made rapid progress on the first of two Arctic Security Cutters it is building for the U.S. Coast Guard, with almost

September 29, 2026
Total Views: 5854

Monday, September 21, 2026
U.S. Sanctions Law Puts Russia’s Arctic Yamal LNG Fleet in Crosshairs
Shipping

U.S. Sanctions Law Puts Russia’s Arctic Yamal LNG Fleet in Crosshairs

A new U.S. sanctions law could put the specialized fleet that keeps Russia’s Yamal LNG project operating in the Arctic under unprecedented pressure,

September 21, 2026
Total Views: 2003

Thursday, September 17, 2026
Exclusive: Sanctioned Ships Carry Critical Chinese Equipment to Russia’s Arctic LNG 2
Energy

Exclusive: Sanctioned Ships Carry Critical Chinese Equipment to Russia’s Arctic LNG 2

Two U.S.-sanctioned heavy-lift vessels are carrying critical power-generation modules from China toward Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project, according to satellite

September 17, 2026
Total Views: 4256

Wednesday, September 16, 2026
USCG Icebreaker ‘Healy’ Will Not Complete Summer Arctic Mission, Coast Guard Says
USCG

USCG Icebreaker ‘Healy’ Will Not Complete Summer Arctic Mission, Coast Guard Says

The U.S. Coast Guard’s icebreaker Healy will not carry out its planned high-latitude Arctic mission this summer following a serious engineering casualty in

September 16, 2026
Total Views: 6322

Tuesday, September 15, 2026
EU Leaders Back Finnish Push for Arctic Icebreaker Fleet
Security

EU Leaders Back Finnish Push for Arctic Icebreaker Fleet

European leaders have backed a stronger role for the European Union in the Arctic, with Finland pushing for a joint icebreaking capability as the region

September 15, 2026
Total Views: 1009

Thursday, September 10, 2026
ship to ship
Shipping

Russia Expands Arctic Oil Shadow Fleet With Dark STS Transfers in Sea of Japan

Russia has conducted two dark ship-to-ship (STS) transfers involving oil cargoes that traveled through the Northern Sea Route, highlighting the increasingly

September 10, 2026
Total Views: 2570

Monday, September 7, 2026
Russia Launches Massive Vostok Oil Project, Marking New Arctic Shipping Era
Energy

Russia Launches Massive Vostok Oil Project, Marking New Arctic Shipping Era

Russia has begun loading crude from its giant Vostok Oil development onto tankers at the newly built Bukhta Sever terminal on the Kara Sea, marking the start

September 7, 2026
Total Views: 1820

Friday, September 4, 2026
China-Russia Arctic Shipping Push Accelerates With New Ice-Class Container Ships
News

China-Russia Arctic Shipping Push Accelerates With New Ice-Class Container Ships

China’s NewNew Shipping Line and Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom are advancing plans to build five large ice-class container ships aimed at

September 4, 2026
Total Views: 6683

Wednesday, September 2, 2026
South Korea’s Arctic Container Trial Voyage Attracts Just 737 TEU, Far Below Target
News

South Korea’s Arctic Container Trial Voyage Attracts Just 737 TEU, Far Below Target

South Korea’s first commercial container trial through the Arctic has attracted just 737 TEUs of cargo, well below the 1,300 TEUs initially targeted for the

September 2, 2026
Total Views: 2164

Friday, August 28, 2026
LNG carrier Alexey Kosygin sea trials
News

Russian Arctic LNG Carrier ‘Alexey Kosygin’ May Be Awaiting Repairs at Chinese Shipyard

Russia’s newly delivered Arc7 ice-class LNG carrier Alexey Kosygin has spent nearly two weeks circling off China’s eastern coast after delivering a cargo

August 28, 2026
Total Views: 1560