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, 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: 10618

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: 6464

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: 91066

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: 12353

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

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: 6723

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: 4395

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: 12736

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: 4431

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: 17057

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: 1327

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: 5647

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: 9002

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: 2509

Friday, November 29, 2024
Aiviq in Tampa
USCG

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: 14396

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: 24443

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: 1944

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

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: 34665

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

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: 29408

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: 22196

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: 11545