Russia Adds New Vessel To Dark Fleet Amid Arctic 2 LNG Ramp Up

AI Summary

The Russian LNG tanker Arctic Express has recently loaded cargo from the Arctic LNG 2 floating storage facility, signaling ramped-up LNG production from the project despite U.S. sanctions. The vessel ownership transferred to a St. Petersburg company and reflects ongoing efforts to maintain covert shipping capacity in the Arctic region.

Arctic Express, a newly flagged Russian LNG tanker, has picked up a cargo of liquefied natural gas from a floating storage facility used by ‌Arctic LNG 2 project, marking the latest addition to Russia’s dark fleet as LNG output from the U.S.-santioned project ramps up, Reuters reported on Monday. The 19-year old vessel was previously called the Queen Cassiopeia and sailed under a Sierra Leone flag while managed by a Greek firm; however, its ownership was transferred to St. Petersburg-based SMP Techmanagement LLC around mid-May, at which…