A covert LNG transshipment scheme takes shape outside Kola Peninsula

The Saam FSU was built for transhipment of liquified natural gas from Russian Arctic plants, but has hardly been in use since it was deployed in the Ura Bay in June 2023.

That is about to change. 

Shipping data show that the 400-metre-long gas terminal ship has been in operation multiple times over the past weeks.

Apparently, the Christophe de Margerie, a carrier with icebreaking category Arc7, is now shuttling between the Saam and the Utrenny terminal in the Gulf of Ob. 

At the same time, other tankers are arriving to pick up the LNG at the Saam and deliver it to buyers on the world market.

Recently, the LNG carriers Voskhod and Buran were in the Ura Bay to pick up LNG.

This week, the Arctic Pioneer also arrived in the area and is most likely loading LNG at the Saam.

All the ships involved are subjected to international sanctions and their operators are ardently seeking to cover up the operations.

The carriers are consequently turning off their AIS as they approach the terminal facilities. 

The Arctic Pioneer has repeatedly been accused of false AIS signalling in violation of international maritime law.

In early August 2024, satellite imagery revealed that the vessel was located at the sanctioned Arctic LNG-2 project, while its AIS signals were still north of Norway.

The tanker was subsequently included on the sanction lists of the US, EU and UK.

Like most of the so-called 'shadow vessels' that serve the sanctioned Russian oil and gas industry, the Arctic Pioneer has changed its name and flag state several times over the past four years.

The Utrenny terminal in the Golf of Ob serves the Arctic LNG 2, a major natural gas project operated by Novatek. The project has been marred by international sanctions imposed after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Despite the sanctions, Novatek has managed to build two of three projected production units. The units have a combined production capacity of 13,2 million tons of LNG. 

Sanctions have also prevented Novatek from fulfilling its original plan to build a fleet of 15 ice-class tankers for the Arctic LNG 2.

Nevertheless, Novatek has succeeded in establishing a 'shadow fleet' of LNG carriers for the project. The Buran, Voskhod, Iris, Zarya and Arctic Pioneer are all part of that fleet. Other tankers that have been involved in shipments of the sanctioned LNG are the Arctic Vostok, the La Perouse, the Arctic Metagaz, and the Christophe de Margerie.

Since late December, the latter has loaded LNG at Utrenny at least twice. The tanker is likely to continue to sail between Utrenny and the Ura Bay in the course of winter 2026.

In contrast, the tanker drifted aimlessly in the Pechora Sea and the Kara Sea for more than five months last winter.