Russia’s emerging LNG shadow fleet has been adapting its strategy as the cat-and-mouse game between the west and the ships carrying the Russian energy supply continues to twist and turn.
LNG carrier Everest Energy (IMO 9243148) recently sailed to the Koryak FSU near the southern tip of Kamchatka to transfer its cargo that was loaded at the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project. The vessel had passed through Arctic waters without a valid permit, flying the flag of Palau, even thought this is now a suspended registration while the flag state investigates the vessel’s actions.
The Koryak floating storage barge had been towed from South Korean shipyard Hanwha Ocean to the north Pacific during August 2023, since when it had been sitting idle.
Koryak’s sister barge, Saam FSU, is also now in use by the shadow fleet. Located near Murmansk in north western Russia and near the border with Norway, the Saam FSU received two cargoes earlier in September. These had also been loaded at Arctic LNG 2.
Russia thus has (temporary) storage points both in the east and west for the LNG it produces from Arctic LNG 2. That has given Russia (and the production facility) while it tries to work out how to get the LNG to its consumers.
In the past two months the Arctic LNG 2 has managed to lift a total of five cargoes, with a sixth one in progress, but it has failed to make any deliveries.
LNG carrier Mulan, sanctioned by the U.S. earlier this month, approached the Utrenniy terminal on September 22, 2024. By September 25th it was in the Barents Sea, having left Arctic LNG 2 on September 24th. No destination is listed.
The six loadings equal about 770,000cbm of LNG, but the floating barges are nothing more than a stop-gap. Russia eventually has to find buyers.
The transfer from Everest Energy to Koryak FSU is the first cargo to leave the Arctic, as the Saam FSU remains in Arctic waters.
Saam FSU has received two transfers, one from the and one from Asya Energy. That raised it to 75% capacity. The New Energy (IMO 9324277) has returned to the Barents Sea from the Mediterranean (via Setubal in Portugal) after its suspended flag prevented it from sailing through the Suez Canal.
The New Energy load was originally lifted from Arctic LNG 2 by the (sanctioned) LNGC Pioneer a couple of months ago.
A further shipment by Asya Energy, currently transiting the Arctic Northern Sea Route, is likely also bound for an offloading at Koryak FSU.
Since Arctic LNG 2 is currently producing a shipment every seven-to-10 days, it will not be long before the Saam FSU and 7-10 days, it will not be long before the production facility will run out of places to send its LNG.
2003-built, Palau-flagged, 93,844 gt Everest Energy is owned by Lathyrus Shipping Co care of Ocean Speedstar Solutions of Mumbai, India. As of September 23rd it was located in the Bering Sea, awaiting orders, having left Sunggai Linggi anchorage, Malaysia on June 18th.
2007-built. 100,253 gt New Energy / Nova Energy was most recently in the Barents Sea, near Murmansk.