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.


Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Russia’s Nuclear Icebreaker Fleet Now Largest Ever as Eighth Vessel Begins Sea Trials
Shipbuilding

Russia’s Nuclear Icebreaker Fleet Now Largest Ever as Eighth Vessel Begins Sea Trials

Russia’s fleet of powerful nuclear icebreakers is now eight vessels-strong, surpassing previous high points reached in the 1990s and

December 4, 2024
Total Views: 2454

Friday, November 29, 2024
Aiviq in Tampa
Defense

Coast Guard Inks Deal to Acquire ‘Aiviq’ As Vessel Arrives in Tampa Dry Dock to Begin Conversion

The U.S. Coast Guard has closed on the $125m fixed-price deal to acquire and convert icebreaking supply ship Aiviq from Offshore Surface Vessels LLC, part of

November 29, 2024
Total Views: 14345

Sunday, November 24, 2024
German and Swedish Coast Guards Arrive Near ‘Yi Peng 3’ In Escalating Cable Damage Incident
Incidents

German and Swedish Coast Guards Arrive Near ‘Yi Peng 3’ In Escalating Cable Damage Incident

The investigation surrounding Chinese bulker carrier Yi Peng 3 suspected of damaging two submarine cables in the Baltic Sea continues to expand.

November 24, 2024
Total Views: 24403

Friday, November 22, 2024
Russia Resumes Ship-to-Ship LNG Transfers Ahead of EU Transshipment Ban
Energy

Russia Resumes Ship-to-Ship LNG Transfers Ahead of EU Transshipment Ban

Transshipments of liquefied natural gas have resumed in Russia’s Arctic off Kildin Island near Murmansk. The restart comes around a month earlier than during

November 22, 2024
Total Views: 1899

Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Chinese Vessel Suspected in Cable Incident Remains Stopped with Danish Navy Alongside
Featured

Chinese Vessel Suspected in Cable Incident Remains Stopped with Danish Navy Alongside

Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 remains stopped in the Danish Straits with a Navy patrol ship in close proximity. The vessel is suspected of being involved in

November 20, 2024
Total Views: 34609

Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Details of Baltic Sea Cable Incident Remain Murky as Danish Navy Shadows Chinese Vessel
Featured

Details of Baltic Sea Cable Incident Remain Murky as Danish Navy Shadows Chinese Vessel

A day after the C-Lion1 and BCS subsea data cables in the Baltic Sea, connecting Finland and Germany as well as Sweden and Lithuania, were damaged, specifics

November 19, 2024
Total Views: 29332

Monday, November 18, 2024
U.S. Coast Guard Boards Foreign Transshipment Vessels and Shadows Russian Surface Groups During Arctic Patrol
Defense

U.S. Coast Guard Boards Foreign Transshipment Vessels and Shadows Russian Surface Groups During Arctic Patrol

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton has returned from a 110-day Arctic patrol. Stratton extended U.S. surface vessel presence this summer to above 72°N latitude,

November 18, 2024
Total Views: 22151

Thursday, November 14, 2024
The icebreaker Aiviq completing refuelling operations at Davis Research Station. Photo: Kirk Yatras via Australian Antarctic Division
Defense

Icebreaker ‘Aiviq’ to Join U.S. Coast Guard Before End of Year to Bolster Arctic Presence

By Malte Humpert (gCaptain) – Commercial Polar icebreaker Aiviq will join the U.S Coast Guard inventory before the end of the calendar year, officials

November 14, 2024
Total Views: 11516

Wednesday, November 13, 2024
‘USS Harry S. Truman’ Sails Into Arctic During Drills with Norway to Counter Growing Russian Influence
Defense

‘USS Harry S. Truman’ Sails Into Arctic During Drills with Norway to Counter Growing Russian Influence

By Malte Humpert (gCaptain) – A U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier is operating in the Arctic for only the third time since the end of the Cold War. The USS

November 13, 2024
Total Views: 2924

Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Hunter Star arriving at the Belokamenka shipyard with module TMS-005 on 31 March 2024. (Source: Belokamenka Yard)
Featured

Final Chinese Module Arrives at Russian Arctic LNG 2 Plant, As U.S. Snoozes on Sanctions Action

By Malte Humpert (gCaptain) – China has successfully completed a two-month-long shipping operation to deliver a 650 MW power plant to the Russian Arctic. The

November 12, 2024
Total Views: 29575

Thursday, November 7, 2024
LNG carrier at dusk
Shipping

Further Challenges Ahead for Russia’s LNG ‘Shadow Fleet’ as Panama Cancels Vessel Registrations

By Malte Humpert (gCaptain) – Russia’s nascent LNG shadow fleet continues to encounter choppy waters. Following the de-flagging of several vessels by the

November 7, 2024
Total Views: 2418

Tuesday, November 5, 2024
ALNG2 sunset
Featured

U.S. Sanctions Fail to Stop Chinese Power Plant, Delivery Salvages Next Stage of Russian Arctic LNG Plant

By Malte Humpert (gCaptain) –  Russia has taken a major step towards commissioning the second production line of the country’s flagship liquefied natural

November 5, 2024
Total Views: 9761

Wednesday, October 30, 2024
lng ship bunkering in fog
Shipping

U.S. Cracks Down on Russian ‘LNG Shadow Fleet’ and Arctic LNG Project in Latest Sanctions

The U.S. continues its effort to freeze Russia’s burgeoning Arctic LNG sector. In a new round of sanctions the State Department targeted transport and

October 30, 2024
Total Views: 3669

Monday, October 28, 2024
LNG module Arctic
Energy

Chinese Power Plant Arrives at Sanctioned Russian Arctic LNG Project After Push Through Dangerous Sea Ice

By Malte Humpert (gCaptain) – Two Chinese heavy-lift vessels arrived off the coast of the sanctioned Russian Arctic LNG 2 project after a five-week journey

October 28, 2024
Total Views: 19322

Friday, October 25, 2024
Arctic LNG 2 employee overlooking the Belokamenka construction yard. (Source: Novatek)
Energy

U.S. Sanctions Force Temporary Shutdown of Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 Project

By Malte Humpert (gCaptain) – Western sanctions appear to have forced the shutdown of Russia’s flagship liquefied gas project, Arctic LNG 2, for the winter

October 25, 2024
Total Views: 8903

Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Tan Suo San Hao
Defense

China Continues Push Into Arctic with Plans for Manned Mission To Seafloor

By Malte Humpert (gCaptain) – China’s Arctic ambitions continue unabated. Days after its first-ever patrol into the polar region off Alaska’s coast

October 23, 2024
Total Views: 2763

Monday, October 21, 2024
Nome port 2024
Ports

U.S. Arctic Presence Falters as Nome Deepwater Port Solicitation Canceled

By Malte Humpert (gCaptain) – Efforts to expand U.S. Arctic capabilities face another setback. The long-discussed expansion of the port of Nome to create the

October 21, 2024
Total Views: 2573

Thursday, October 17, 2024
sibir in ice
Featured

Chinese Vessels Without Ice Class Violate Arctic Safety Rules, Struggling Through Ice To Deliver Sanctioned Cargo

By Malte Humpert (gCaptain) – In an attempt to deliver a power plant to a Russian Arctic LNG project before winter two Chinese heavy lift vessels are inching

October 17, 2024
Total Views: 49158

Wednesday, October 16, 2024
LNG carrier in dense fog
Featured

Russia’s Shadow Fleet Stalls, Leaving 1 Million Cubic Meters of LNG Undelivered

As Russia’s attempt to establish an LNG shadow fleet enters its third month, undelivered cargos continue to stack up aboard LNG carriers and floating storage

October 16, 2024
Total Views: 20951

Monday, October 14, 2024
leader icebreaker
Shipping

Russia Allocates $1bn For Massive Nuclear Icebreaker, Paving Way For Year-Round Arctic Shipping

Russia’s draft federal budget includes substantial funding of nearly $1bn over three years to complete construction of the country’s flagship nuclear

October 14, 2024
Total Views: 5664