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, November 3, 2025
Russia Pushes ‘Shadow Fleet’ to Limit as LNG Carrier Struggles Through Early Arctic Ice on Northern Sea Route
Shipping

Russia Pushes ‘Shadow Fleet’ to Limit as LNG Carrier Struggles Through Early Arctic Ice on Northern Sea Route

A Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier from the country’s so-called shadow fleet, the Buran, is battling thickening sea ice along the Northern Sea

November 3, 2025
Total Views: 10689

Thursday, October 30, 2025
Audax carrying a module for Arctic LNG 2 across the Arctic. (Source: Red Box Energy Services)
Shipping

EU Lifts Sanctions on Heavy-Load Carriers ‘Audax’ and ‘Pugnax’ Involved in Russian Arctic LNG Construction

In a surprise move the EU has unsanctioned two polar class heavy lift vessels, Audax and Pugnax. The vessels were purpose-built for the construction of

October 30, 2025
Total Views: 3314

Monday, October 27, 2025
Sealegend Announces 16 China Arctic Express Voyages for 2026 Following Success of ‘Istanbul Bridge’ Transit
Shipping

Sealegend Announces 16 China Arctic Express Voyages for 2026 Following Success of ‘Istanbul Bridge’ Transit

Container shipping via the Arctic is set for a massive boost in 2026. After completing the first-ever Arctic Express voyage from Ningbo-Zhoushan, China to

October 27, 2025
Total Views: 1523

Cargoship ‘Thamesborg’ Arrives in Eastern Canada After 10-week Odyssey, Grounding in Arctic
Grounding Incidents

Cargoship ‘Thamesborg’ Arrives in Eastern Canada After 10-week Odyssey, Grounding in Arctic

Thamesborg's journey from China to Canada was supposed to take just three to four weeks via an Arctic shortcut. It ended up lasting more than two months.

October 27, 2025
Total Views: 6845

Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Russia, China Finalize Deal to Jointly Develop Arctic Shipping Along the Northern Sea Route
Shipping

Russia, China Finalize Deal to Jointly Develop Arctic Shipping Along the Northern Sea Route

Beijing and Moscow have agreed to jointly develop and commercialize the Northern Sea Route in the Russian Arctic. The deal was signed in the Chinese city of

October 21, 2025
Total Views: 13435

Monday, October 20, 2025
LNG Carrier 'Perle' and "CCH Gas' conducting a STS transfer off the coast of Malaysia
Shipping

China Joins Russia’s Shadow Fleet with First-Ever Dark LNG Ship-to-Ship Transfer

Russia has carried out its first ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) using so-called “shadow fleet” vessels, teaming up with a

October 20, 2025
Total Views: 17236

Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Cargoship ‘Thamesborg’ Departs Arctic Northwest Passage After Refloat, Concluding Six-Week Rescue Operation
Grounding Incidents

Cargoship ‘Thamesborg’ Departs Arctic Northwest Passage After Refloat, Concluding Six-Week Rescue Operation

Around six weeks after running aground in Canada’s Arctic waters Dutch cargo vessel Thamesborg and its icebreaker and tug escort have left the waters of the

October 15, 2025
Total Views: 15699

Monday, October 13, 2025
Russia Unveils Plans for First Domestically-Built LNG Carrier to Overcome Sanctions
Shipbuilding

Russia Unveils Plans for First Domestically-Built LNG Carrier to Overcome Sanctions

Blocked from accessing western tech, Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) aims to construct the country’s first ice-class gas carrier. The company

October 13, 2025
Total Views: 2262

Flying Fish 1, named Oakland at the time, outside Western Scheldt, Netherlands in February 2023. Photo courtesy of Peter Faas
Shipping

Chinese Containership ‘Istanbul Bridge’ Reaches UK via Arctic Route in Record 20 Days

Chinese containership Istanbul Bridge arrived at the UK’s largest terminal Felixstowe early on October 13. The Panamax vessel completed the 7,500 nautical

October 13, 2025
Total Views: 61891

Thursday, October 9, 2025
Arctic Cargo Ship ‘Thamesborg’ Refloated AIS Data Show, Awaiting Company Confirmation 
Grounding Incidents

Arctic Cargo Ship ‘Thamesborg’ Refloated AIS Data Show, Awaiting Company Confirmation 

Nearly five weeks after running around in Canada’s Arctic Northwest Passage, Dutch cargo ship Thamesborg appears to have been successfully refloated. The

October 9, 2025
Total Views: 1605

Finland to Sign Agreement On Icebreakers for U.S. Coast Guard During White House Visit
Defense

Finland to Sign Agreement On Icebreakers for U.S. Coast Guard During White House Visit

After months of speculation about Finland constructing icebreakers for the U.S. Coast Guard a deal could come as early as today. Finland’s president

October 9, 2025
Total Views: 1422

Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Commonwealth LNG Wants More Time to Build Planned Export Facility in Louisiana
Energy

Commonwealth LNG Wants More Time to Build Planned Export Facility in Louisiana

Commonwealth LNG has asked federal regulators for a four-year extension to construct and begin shipping liquefied natural gas from a proposed export facility

October 7, 2025
Total Views: 996

Wagenborg to Attempt Refloat of Grounded ‘Thamesborg’ This Week Weather Permitting, Before Ice Window Narrows
Grounding Incidents

Wagenborg to Attempt Refloat of Grounded ‘Thamesborg’ This Week Weather Permitting, Before Ice Window Narrows

Dutch operator Wagenborg will attempt to refloat its grounded cargo vessel Thamesborg this week, weather conditions permitting, the company announced during a

October 7, 2025
Total Views: 4981

Monday, October 6, 2025
Cargo Ship ‘Thamesborg’ Remains Aground in Arctic as Icebreaker Arrives on Scene With Sea Ice Building
Grounding Incidents

Cargo Ship ‘Thamesborg’ Remains Aground in Arctic as Icebreaker Arrives on Scene With Sea Ice Building

A month after running aground the Dutch cargo vessel Thamesborg remains aground atop a shoal along Canada’s Northwest Passage. Over the weekend an

October 6, 2025
Total Views: 25476

Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Finland’s Aker Arctic Unveils Next-Generation Medium-Class Icebreaker as Global Demand Heats Up
Shipbuilding

Finland’s Aker Arctic Unveils Next-Generation Medium-Class Icebreaker as Global Demand Heats Up

Finnish icebreaker designer Aker Arctic on Monday released the first renderings of its new B+ class vessel for the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency,

October 1, 2025
Total Views: 3951

Tuesday, September 30, 2025
China Expands Global Trade Network with Launch of First ‘Arctic Express’ Container Service
Shipping

China Expands Global Trade Network with Launch of First ‘Arctic Express’ Container Service

Around a decade after shipping giant COSCO sent its first merchant ship across Russia’s Northern Sea Route, Chinese operator Sealegend is looking to make

September 30, 2025
Total Views: 5112

Sunday, September 28, 2025
China’s 15th Arctic Expedition Marks Milestone with First Manned Dive Beneath Polar Ice
News

China’s 15th Arctic Expedition Marks Milestone with First Manned Dive Beneath Polar Ice

China has wrapped up the country’s 15th Arctic scientific expedition with icebreaker Xue Long 2 returning to Shanghai on September 26. This marks the

September 28, 2025
Total Views: 4519

Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Russia Opens New Production Line at Sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 as First Carrier Loads Cargo
Energy

Russia Opens New Production Line at Sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 as First Carrier Loads Cargo

Russia continues to expand its Arctic liquefied natural gas facilities. More than a year after towing the second production line to the Gydan Peninsula a gas

September 24, 2025
Total Views: 4163

Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Two Salvage Vessels Arrive in Canadian Arctic to Begin Refloating of Grounded ‘Thamesborg’
Grounding Incidents

Two Salvage Vessels Arrive in Canadian Arctic to Begin Refloating of Grounded ‘Thamesborg’

A tug and an ice-class cargo vessel have arrived in the Canadian Arctic to begin efforts to refloat the Dutch-flagged Thamesborg. The 21,359-dwt vessel has

September 23, 2025
Total Views: 29822

Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Cargo ship Thamesborg after running aground in Canada's Northwest Passage through the Arctic
Grounding Incidents

Inclement Weather Delays Salvage Efforts of Grounded Vessel ‘Thamesborg’ in the Canadian Arctic

Ten days after hitting a shoal along Canada’s Arctic Northwest Passage Dutch-flagged general cargo vessel Thamesborg remains aground. Operator Wagenborg

September 17, 2025
Total Views: 5195