Arctic Shipping

Arctic shipping and Northern Sea Route transit data and news from gCaptain. Icebreaker deployments, polar class rules, ice reports and seasonal volumes.

Monday, December 15, 2025
Cargo Ship ‘Thamesborg’ Arrives at Turkey Shipyard For Repairs After Arctic Grounding
Incidents

Cargo Ship ‘Thamesborg’ Arrives at Turkey Shipyard For Repairs After Arctic Grounding

The Dutch-flagged cargo ship Thamesborg has arrived at a Turkish shipyard to undergo repairs following a high-profile grounding in the Northwest Passage

December 15, 2025
Total Views: 2653

Monday, December 8, 2025
‘Dark Fleet’ LNG Carrier Forced to Turn Back as Early Winter Ice Blocks Access to Arctic LNG 2
Shipping

‘Dark Fleet’ LNG Carrier Forced to Turn Back as Early Winter Ice Blocks Access to Arctic LNG 2

In recent days Russia’s medium ice-class LNG carrier Buran has failed repeatedly to reach the Arctic LNG 2 terminal in Ob Bay as thick, early-season ice has

December 8, 2025
Total Views: 13690

Monday, December 1, 2025
DHS Warns of ‘Unprecedented’ Chinese Presence in Arctic During Summer 2025
Defense

DHS Warns of ‘Unprecedented’ Chinese Presence in Arctic During Summer 2025

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has raised concerns over a surge in Chinese military and research vessels in Arctic waters during 2025. The

December 1, 2025
Total Views: 1440

Friday, November 28, 2025
Russia Rushes to Complete Sea Trials of First Domestic Ice LNG Tanker Before Winter
Energy

Russia Rushes to Complete Sea Trials of First Domestic Ice LNG Tanker Before Winter

Russia’s first domestically constructed LNG Carrier Aleksey Kosygin is undergoing its fourth round of sea trials in the Far East as Moscow races to ready the

November 28, 2025
Total Views: 1311

Wednesday, November 26, 2025
The Christophe de Margerie, an ice-class tanker fitted out to transport liquefied natural gas, is docked at the Yamal LNG facility in Arctic port of Sabetta, Yamalo-Nenets district, Russia March 30, 2017. REUTERS/Olesya Astakhova/File Photo
Featured

UK Strikes at Heart of Russia’s Arctic Energy Empire

New maritime services ban threatens to sever lifeline for Yamal LNG exports By Paul Morgan (gCaptain) – In the frozen waters above the Arctic Circle, a

November 26, 2025
Total Views: 23351

Saturday, November 22, 2025
China’s NewNew Polar Bear in a convoy in the Russian Arctic in October 2023. (Source: Atomflot)
Interesting

Space Race With China Drives Antenna-Building Boom In Arctic

By Danielle Bochove and Thomas Seal Nov 22, 2025(Bloomberg) –Satellite operators are looking north. Way north. As the US, China and others

November 22, 2025
Total Views: 1718

Thursday, November 20, 2025
Russia Ships Nearly 3 Million Tonnes of LNG to Asia via Emerging Arctic Shortcut
Energy

Russia Ships Nearly 3 Million Tonnes of LNG to Asia via Emerging Arctic Shortcut

With thick winter sea ice making a return to the Arctic Russia’s Novatek has likely shipped its final cargo of liquefied natural gas of the year via the

November 20, 2025
Total Views: 1435

Friday, November 14, 2025
ALNG2 sunset
Energy

Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 Cuts Gas Output Ahead of Winter Challenges

Russia’s sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 plant has started curbing gas production after reaching records in October, as the buildup of winter ice makes exports more

November 14, 2025
Total Views: 716

Monday, November 10, 2025
An LNG tanker at a port in Yantai, China
News

Russia’s LNG ‘Shadow Fleet’ Stalls as Winter Nears, Vessels Idle or Turn Back

After a flurry of activity over the past three months Russia’s LNG ‘dark fleet’ is struggling to keep its momentum with winter approaching. LNG carriers

November 10, 2025
Total Views: 2510

Tuesday, November 4, 2025
China submersible CCTV
News

China Completes 43 Manned Arctic Dives in 2025, Demonstrates Dual Submersible Operations Under Ice

China has completed 43 successful manned submersible dives during its 2025 Arctic expedition, including coordinated missions using two crewed deep-sea

November 4, 2025
Total Views: 4424

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: 3315

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: 1524

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: 6848

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: 13437

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
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: 61897

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

Tuesday, October 7, 2025
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: 25477

Friday, October 3, 2025
The Maersk containership Venta Maersk transits the Northern Sea Route on a one-off trial run of the Arctic route
Shipping

China Turns to Arctic Shortcut While Major Carriers Steer Clear

China’s latest foray into the Northern Sea Route — using the channel between Russia and the North Pole to ship goods — has led some of the world’s

October 3, 2025
Total Views: 1740