A tanker fleet transporting LNG from the US-sanctioned Arctic LNG2 project has
almost doubled in under a year as Russia accelerates efforts to expand exports
despite Western restrictions. Ship-tracking analysis shows at least 20 vessels
have served Arctic LNG2 and related facilities, up from 11 at end-December; most
display opaque ownership structures consistent with a "shadow fleet." The latest
addition is a Russian-built advanced ice-class LNG carrier—the second vessel
designed for year-round transit of ice-covered waters—which berthed at the
Arctic LNG2 facility and loaded LNG over the weekend.
