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.


Thursday, January 23, 2025
Wei Xiao Tian Shi
Shipping

US Sanctions Send Key Modules Destined for Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 Back to China After 10-Month Odyssey

The U.S. chalks up a critical win in its efforts to halt the expansion of the Russian LNG sector. Ten months after departing from a Chinese yard, heavy lift

January 23, 2025
Total Views: 8812

Tuesday, January 21, 2025
US Coast Guard’s New Icebreaker ‘Aiviq’: A Capable Addition to Arctic Operations or a Flawed Stopgap Solution?
Defense

US Coast Guard’s New Icebreaker ‘Aiviq’: A Capable Addition to Arctic Operations or a Flawed Stopgap Solution?

The U.S. Coast Guard’s newest acquisition, the icebreaker Aiviq, is being readied to supplement the service’s two aging polar-capable vessels. During its

January 21, 2025
Total Views: 12648

Thursday, January 16, 2025
crude oil import terminal vlcc tanker china
Energy

Tanker Under US Sanctions Discharges Oil at Chinese Port, LSEG Data Shows

A tanker subject to the new U.S. sanctions is discharging Russian oil at a port operated by Shandong Port Group in east China, shipping data on LSEG Eikon

January 16, 2025
Total Views: 1397

Monday, January 13, 2025
Ocean 28
Shipping

US Slaps Sanctions on Chinese Yard Wison For Supplying Technology to Arctic LNG 2

Time has run out for Chinese technology provider Zhoushan Wison Offshore and Marine, a key partner in Novatek’s Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG 2 projects. The

January 13, 2025
Total Views: 3927

Friday, January 10, 2025
U.S. Blocks More Than 180 Vessels, Oil Traders and Companies In Sweeping New Sanctions Against Russia
Energy

U.S. Blocks More Than 180 Vessels, Oil Traders and Companies In Sweeping New Sanctions Against Russia

In an unprecedented move targeting Russia’s energy sector the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sanctions against more than 180 vessels, dozens of

January 10, 2025
Total Views: 1850

Monday, January 6, 2025
Icebreaker ‘Storis’ Officially Joins U.S. Coast Guard Fleet
Defense

Icebreaker ‘Storis’ Officially Joins U.S. Coast Guard Fleet

The Biden administration plans to impose more sanctions on Russia over its war on Ukraine, taking aim at its oil revenues with action against tankers carrying

January 6, 2025
Total Views: 10571

Thursday, January 2, 2025
China’s NewNew Polar Bear in a convoy in the Russian Arctic in October 2023. (Source: Atomflot)
Shipping

Russia Sets New Arctic Shipping Record, Transports 38Mt in 2024 via Northern Sea Route

Cargo volume on Russia’s main Arctic shipping lane continues to climb, although figures remain below the targets originally defined by President Putin

January 2, 2025
Total Views: 6366

China Coast Guard sailors line up on the back deck of a cutter as it enters the Arctic. Chiense CG Photo
Defense

U.S. Department of Defense Sounds Alarm Bells About China’s Growing Presence in Arctic

By Malte Humpert (gCaptain) – China’s Arctic activities feature prominently in a new DoD report to Congress about the country’s military and security

January 2, 2025
Total Views: 91002

Monday, December 30, 2024
Russian Navy Launches Second Arctic ‘Combat Icebreaker’
Defense

Russian Navy Launches Second Arctic ‘Combat Icebreaker’

The Admiralty Shipyards in Saint Petersburg launched the second armed Arctic icebreaker for Russia’s Navy.

December 30, 2024
Total Views: 12305

Thursday, December 26, 2024
Russia’s First Domestically Built LNG Carrier Begins Sea Trials, Poised to Strengthen Arctic ‘Shadow Fleet’
Energy

Russia’s First Domestically Built LNG Carrier Begins Sea Trials, Poised to Strengthen Arctic ‘Shadow Fleet’

In a significant step to expand Russia’s domestic shipbuilding portfolio the Zvezda shipyard has completed work on its first LNG vessel. Ice-capable gas

December 26, 2024
Total Views: 6666

Monday, December 23, 2024
lng ship bunkering in fog
Shipping

Russia’s LNG Shadow Fleet Resumes Operations After Months-Long Hiatus

Several vessels of Russia’s LNG shadow fleet are on the move after idling for much of the past two months. In the Western Arctic near Murmansk, newbuild LNG

December 23, 2024
Total Views: 4357

Friday, December 20, 2024
Artist rendering of the Polar Security Cutter. Credit: Bollinger Shipyards
Defense

U.S. Coast Guard Heavy Icebreaker Production Decision Expected This Week After Multi-Year Delay

In a major step for the U.S. Coast Guard’s efforts to construct its first heavy icebreaker in 50 years, the production decision by the Department of Homeland

December 20, 2024
Total Views: 12699

Monday, December 16, 2024
Christophe de margerie
Shipping

EU Imposes First-Ever Sanctions On Yamal Gas Project Targeting ‘Christophe de Margerie’ LNG Carrier

The EU’s 15th sanctions package against Russia for the first time targets Yamal LNG by including a carrier in service of the project.  The ice-capable

December 16, 2024
Total Views: 4369

Russia Now Primary Suspect in ‘Yi Peng 3’ Baltic Sea Cable Incident
Incidents

Russia Now Primary Suspect in ‘Yi Peng 3’ Baltic Sea Cable Incident

Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 remains at anchor in international waters of Denmark’s Kattegat Strait a month after the C-Lion 1 and BCS East-West Interlink

December 16, 2024
Total Views: 16989

Thursday, December 12, 2024
Russia’s Rosneft Delays Arctic Mega Oil Project Due to Sanctions, Shortage of Oil Tankers
Energy

Russia’s Rosneft Delays Arctic Mega Oil Project Due to Sanctions, Shortage of Oil Tankers

Russian Oil major Rosneft has delayed the commissioning of the Vostok Oil project until 2026, in part due to a shortage of ice-capable oil tankers as a result

December 12, 2024
Total Views: 1191

Monday, December 9, 2024
Arctic Shipping Sets New Records With Hundred Transit Voyages Carrying 3m Tonnes of Cargo in 2024
Shipping

Arctic Shipping Sets New Records With Hundred Transit Voyages Carrying 3m Tonnes of Cargo in 2024

A tanker hauling Russian crude from the Baltic Sea to India that was observed heading toward the Shetland Islands — a route that would have taken it on a

December 9, 2024
Total Views: 5554

Friday, December 6, 2024
U.S. Coast Guard Icebreaker ‘Aiviq’ to be Renamed ‘Storis’ Photos Reveal
Defense

U.S. Coast Guard Icebreaker ‘Aiviq’ to be Renamed ‘Storis’ Photos Reveal

A week after Aiviq arrived at Tampa Ship LLC in Florida a new set of photos shows the vessel fully repainted in U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker red. The transom at

December 6, 2024
Total Views: 8934

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: 2458

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: 24407