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, June 18, 2026
Russia Readies Second Homebuilt Arctic LNG Icebreaking Carrier as Novatek Expands Sanction-Hit Fleet
Shipping

Russia Readies Second Homebuilt Arctic LNG Icebreaking Carrier as Novatek Expands Sanction-Hit Fleet

Russia moved closer to deploying its second domestically built Arc7 icebreaking liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier on Thursday as the Konstantin Posyet was

June 18, 2026
Total Views: 2398

Tuesday, June 16, 2026
LNG carrier in dense fog
Shipping

UK Targets New Arctic LNG 2 ‘Shadow Fleet’ Vessels as Russia Scrambles for Tankers

Britain on Tuesday imposed sanctions on four liquefied natural gas carriers linked to Russia's Arctic LNG 2 project, becoming the first G7 country to target

June 16, 2026
Total Views: 616

Monday, June 15, 2026
U.S. Senators Propose Arctic Spy Ship Ban Amid Rising Chinese, Russian Activity Near Alaska
Security

U.S. Senators Propose Arctic Spy Ship Ban Amid Rising Chinese, Russian Activity Near Alaska

Two U.S. senators introduced bipartisan legislation on Monday aimed at barring Chinese and Russian government-linked vessels from conducting research

June 15, 2026
Total Views: 1272

Gazprom sign
Shipping

EU Sanctions Shipping Arms of Gazprom and Lukoil Over ‘High-Risk’ Russian Oil Transport Practices

The European Union has sanctioned the shipping subsidiaries of Russian energy giants Gazprom and Lukoil, broadening its crackdown on Moscow’s oil

June 15, 2026
Total Views: 704

Wednesday, June 10, 2026
EU Imports of Russian Arctic LNG Surge Despite New Restrictions, Spain Leads May Buying
Energy

EU Imports of Russian Arctic LNG Surge Despite New Restrictions, Spain Leads May Buying

European Union imports of Russian liquefied natural gas from the Arctic Yamal LNG project continue to climb in the first five months of 2026 despite the

June 10, 2026
Total Views: 528

Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Christophe de Margerie first cargo
Shipping

Russia Reactivates Arctic LNG Route to Asia as Icebreaking Carrier Completes Rare Early-Summer Transit

Russia has reopened its seasonal eastern export corridor for liquefied natural gas from the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project after the icebreaking LNG carrier

June 9, 2026
Total Views: 1931

Friday, June 5, 2026
Satellite Images Capture Sanctioned Russian LNG Carrier’s Rare Early-Season Arctic Transit
Shipping

Satellite Images Capture Sanctioned Russian LNG Carrier’s Rare Early-Season Arctic Transit

Satellite imagery has captured the sanctioned Russian liquefied natural gas carrier Christophe de Margerie making a rare early-season eastbound voyage along

June 5, 2026
Total Views: 1389

Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Putin Clears TotalEnergies Exit From Arctic LNG 2 as Russia’s Sanctioned LNG Project Faces Shipping Hurdles
Energy

Putin Clears TotalEnergies Exit From Arctic LNG 2 as Russia’s Sanctioned LNG Project Faces Shipping Hurdles

Russian President Vladimir Putin has authorized France’s TotalEnergies to sell its 10% stake in the Arctic LNG 2 project, potentially opening the door to one

June 3, 2026
Total Views: 2831

Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Denmark’s Fayard Shipyard Remains Last EU Lifeline for Russia’s Yamal LNG Fleet as Sanctions Clock Ticks Down
Shipyard

Denmark’s Fayard Shipyard Remains Last EU Lifeline for Russia’s Yamal LNG Fleet as Sanctions Clock Ticks Down

The Danish shipyard Fayard is set to remain a critical service hub for Russia’s Arctic LNG trade through at least one more summer, even as European sanctions

June 2, 2026
Total Views: 2128

Friday, May 29, 2026
A rendering of the heavy polar icebreaker for the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG)
Shipbuilding

Seaspan Marks Rapid Progress on Canadian Polar Icebreaker Amid Arctic Shipbuilding Push

Canada’s Seaspan Shipyards said it has completed the first major construction block for the Canadian Coast Guard’s new heavy polar icebreaker, highlighting

May 29, 2026
Total Views: 749

Thursday, May 28, 2026
Christophe de Margerie first cargo
Shipping

Russia Sends Arctic LNG 2 Cargo East Along Northern Sea Route in Rare May Voyage

The icebreaking LNG carrier Christophe de Margerie appeared to be attempting an unusually early eastbound transit of Russia’s Northern Sea Route (NSR) this

May 28, 2026
Total Views: 1718

Wednesday, May 20, 2026
A panstar containership underway
Shipping

South Korea Selects Operator for First Arctic Container Trial Voyage via Russia’s Northern Sea Route

South Korea has preliminarily selected shipping company Panstar Line to operate the country’s first trial container voyage along Russia’s Northern Sea

May 20, 2026
Total Views: 1260

Wednesday, May 13, 2026
LNG Terminal in Germany. Photo Michael Sohn/Pool via REUTERS
Energy

Europe Swaps Russian Gas Dependence for U.S. LNG Reliance as Middle East Turmoil Tightens Squeeze

Europe’s rush to quit Russian pipeline gas has created a new energy vulnerability: growing dependence on U.S. liquefied natural gas, as war-linked supply

May 13, 2026
Total Views: 1682

Monday, May 11, 2026
Russia-linked LNG Carrier ‘Merkuriy’ Loads at Arctic Hub, Expanding Shadow Fleet Capacity
Shipping

Russia-linked LNG Carrier ‘Merkuriy’ Loads at Arctic Hub, Expanding Shadow Fleet Capacity

The LNG carrier Merkuriy, recently reflagged to Russia alongside three other tankers, has been observed loading liquefied natural gas at the Saam floating

May 11, 2026
Total Views: 1503

Friday, May 8, 2026
EU Russian Arctic LNG Imports Hit $4.4bn Record Despite Sanctions Measures
Energy

EU Russian Arctic LNG Imports Hit $4.4bn Record Despite Sanctions Measures

European Union imports of Russian Arctic liquefied natural gas from the Yamal LNG project hit a record high in the first four months of 2026, despite the bloc

May 8, 2026
Total Views: 1179

Monday, May 4, 2026
Stricken Russian LNG Tanker ‘Arctic Metagaz’ Anchored Off Libya After Two-Month Odyssey, Future Uncertain
Incidents

Stricken Russian LNG Tanker ‘Arctic Metagaz’ Anchored Off Libya After Two-Month Odyssey, Future Uncertain

The burnt-out Russian LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz has been anchored off Libya’s eastern coast, potentially ending a two-month drift across the central

May 4, 2026
Total Views: 4180

Tuesday, April 28, 2026
lng ship bunkering in fog
Shipping

Russia-Linked LNG Carriers Head North After Reflagging, Signalling Arctic Fleet Expansion

Four recently reflagged liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers linked to new Turkish-controlled entities are heading north in the Atlantic, in what analysts say

April 28, 2026
Total Views: 2578

Wednesday, April 22, 2026
HD Hyundai Heavy Wins Landmark Swedish Icebreaker Order, Marking Strategic Arctic Push
News

HD Hyundai Heavy Wins Landmark Swedish Icebreaker Order, Marking Strategic Arctic Push

South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has secured its first overseas order for an icebreaker, winning a contract from Sweden in a deal that signals

April 22, 2026
Total Views: 1446

Tuesday, April 21, 2026
US Coast Guard Icebreaker ‘Polar Star’ Returns Home After Antarctic Mission
USCG

US Coast Guard Icebreaker ‘Polar Star’ Returns Home After Antarctic Mission

The U.S. Coast Guard’s sole heavy icebreaker, the Polar Star, has returned to its homeport of Seattle after completing a months-long Antarctic deployment

April 21, 2026
Total Views: 934

Friday, April 10, 2026
Christophe de Margerie LNG carrier
Energy

EU Ramps Up Yamal LNG Imports in Q1, Paying Russia $3.3 billion Despite Looming Ban

The European Union sharply increased imports of liquefied natural gas from Russia’s Yamal LNG project in the first quarter of 2026, taking nearly all

April 10, 2026
Total Views: 704