Exclusive: Russia Appears to Load First Arctic LNG 2 Cargo on ‘Shadow Fleet’ Vessel

By Malte Humpert (gCaptain) –

Russia’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer Novatek appears to have loaded the first cargo from its sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project.

Satellite images of the project site on the Gydan peninsula in the Russian Arctic taken on August 1 show an LNG carrier docked alongside Train 1 of Arctic LNG 2. 

The image also shows significant gas flaring activity routinely coinciding with the production and loading of LNG onto a carrier. In contrast, images taken over previous weeks and months did not show the flaring of any gas. 

While satellite images confirm the presence of an LNG carrier, AIS vessel tracking info does not reveal any vessels in the vicinity of the facility seemingly confirming recent industry speculation that Russia was in the process of assembling a “shadow fleet.”

The unidentified vessel measures approximately 280 meters in length and visually conforms with the appearance of LNG carriers. 

The vessel has since been identified as the 2005-built 138,000-cbm LNGC Pioneer. It arrived at the Utrenney Terminal on August 1. Vessel tracking sites still show it to the north of Norway confirming that it spoofed its AIS position to travel to Arctic LNG 2 unseen.

Industry reporting has tracked a number of potential “shadow fleet” LNG carriers, including older steam turbine vessels sold to Dubai-based Nur Global Shipping.

Several LNG carriers have displayed unusual behavior of the past few weeks circling just outside Russian Arctic waters. Vessels include LNG carriers Pioneer, LNG Dubhe, and SCF La Perouse. These vessels could potentially be used for ship-to-ship transfers involving the unidentified LNG carrier at Arctic LNG 2 as part of a “shadow fleet” operation. 

Russia has deployed a 600 vessel strong dark fleet to circumvent sanctions targeting its oil exports. 

Experts had cautioned that an equivalent effort for LNG would be much harder to implement due to the much smaller size of the global LNG fleet and fewer loading and unloading points. 

Routine loadings at neighboring and thus far unsanctioned Yamal LNG project meanwhile continue uninterrupted. Vessel tracking services show three recent exports from Sabetta. 

Read Next: A Gas Carrier Faking Its Location Helps Russia Avoid Sanctions

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