UK Targets New Arctic LNG 2 ‘Shadow Fleet’ Vessels as Russia Scrambles for Tankers

Britain on Tuesday imposed sanctions on four liquefied natural gas carriers linked to Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project, becoming the first G7 country to target the latest vessels acquired to expand exports from the sanctioned Arctic plant.

The newly sanctioned vessels – Orion, Merkuriy, Kosmos and Luch – form part of a growing LNG “shadow fleet” assembled by Russian gas producer Novatek to overcome severe shipping constraints that have hampered Arctic LNG 2 since Western sanctions were imposed.

According to a UK sanctions notice, London determined there were reasonable grounds to suspect the vessels were involved in transporting Russian LNG to