Audax Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

In a surprising development, the European Union has officially removed sanctions from two polar class heavy lift vessels, the 'Audax' and 'Pugnax'. These ships were specifically designed and built in 2016 for the purpose of supporting Russia's Yamal LNG project. Notably, they also played a critical role in transporting the majority of prefabricated modules for another major Russian LNG initiative, Arctic LNG 2. Owned by the sanctioned company Red Box Energy Services Pte. Ltd., the 'Audax' and 'Pugnax' are capable of navigating the Arctic Northern Sea Route, even during the challenging winter months. Despite facing Western sanctions, these vessels continued their operations in service of Russia, completing module shipments just before Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Following this, they maintained their transport duties, delivering modules to the Belolamenka Shipyard located near Murmansk, with the last shipment scheduled for January 2024. Red Box's then-CEO claimed that the company was solely involved in delivering steel structures and had no contractual ties with Russia or Novatek. However, both U.S. and EU authorities remained skeptical, leading to sanctions being imposed on the company and its vessels in May and June 2024. In the aftermath, Red Box's CEO Philip Adkins resigned in June 2024, coinciding with the non-renewal of his Singaporean residence permit. Following sanctions, the vessels have largely been inactive, with 'Audax' reported in coastal waters of the Yellow Sea and 'Pugnax' docked in Singapore. Previously, in July 2025, the EU lifted sanctions on three MOL-controlled LNG carriers—'North Moon', 'North Ocean', and 'North Light'—after receiving assurances they would not be engaged in transporting Russian LNG. The current status of Red Box and whether they now provide similar guarantees remains unclear. Furthermore, the lifting of sanctions may also be linked to an undisclosed sale to a new owner. With a PC3 ice-class designation, both vessels are excellently equipped for operations in polar regions, which includes Antarctica. It is important to note that while the EU has lifted its sanctions, the 'Audax' and 'Pugnax' remain on the sanction lists of the U.S., Canada, and Switzerland.

In an unprecedented maritime milestone, ZPMC RedBox Energy Services proudly announces the voyage of its vessel AUDAX, believed to be the first-ever winter transit of a module carrier along the Northern Sea Route. This formidable journey commenced from the Bering Straits, targeting Sabetta on Russia's Yamal Peninsula. Philip Adkins, CEO of RedBox, noted with enthusiasm, "Delivering modules of this magnitude during winter from Qingdao to Sabetta via the Northern Sea Route is a first for the industry. Despite facing challenges such as temperatures plunging to -25 °C, our resilient crew has been meticulously trained over the past two years for such difficult voyages, and I am immensely proud of their dedication." The AUDAX is anticipated to dock in Sabetta by January 4, 2017, though its arrival will depend on prevailing ice conditions. Highlighting the substantial investment RedBox has made in this venture, Adkins mentioned that their fleet, consisting of four specialized marine heavy lift ships, signifies a major commitment to transporting large infrastructure modules necessary for the Yamal LNG project. Notably, the company's semi-submersibles, RED ZED I and RED ZED II, made history in summer 2015 by being the first vessels to successfully transport prefabricated structures for the Yamal LNG. Adkins emphasized how the harsh weather in the Russian Arctic has underscored the importance of their two ice-class ARC7 28,500 dwt PC-3 module carriers, now equipped for year-round navigation above the Arctic Circle. These vessels will continue to facilitate the transport of modules from Asia to Sabetta, supporting Technip in their efforts to maintain the construction timeline of this critical LNG project.