The Ibri-Lng: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

In a decisive move to bolster its efforts against Russia, the European Union has unveiled its 21st Package of Sanctions, effective from July 23. This new round of sanctions targets various Russian Arctic maritime assets, prominently featuring the LNG tanker 'Aleksey Kosygin' (IMO: 9904546). Known for its operations along the Northern Sea Route, this vessel was engaged in support of Novatek's Arctic LNG 2 project. Alongside the 'Aleksey Kosygin,' the LNG carrier 'Christophe de Margerie' (IMO: 9737187) was also noted for its activities, facilitating transport between Utrenneye in the Gulf of Ob and the Saam FSU located in Ura Bay. As of July 27, the 'Aleksey Kosygin' was reported to be navigating the Bering Sea, potentially headed toward the Koryak FSU in Bechevinskaya Bay, Kamchatka, laden with LNG sourced from the Arctic LNG 2 facility. The sanctions package extends beyond maritime assets, encompassing over 100 banks and cryptocurrency firms, a number of oil refineries, and more than 50 military-industrial entities, including significant contributors to Russia's long-range drone manufacturing. Additionally, the list specifies more than 40 vessels renowned for their operational patterns in Russia's shadow fleet, many of which frequently traverse Arctic regions. Among the notable additions is the LNG carrier 'Luch,' a 20-year-old tanker that recently operated under the Sierra Leone flag, with its ISM management shrouded in anonymity. Earlier this year, in May 2026, 'Luch' was reported to dock at the Kola Peninsula, where it may have loaded LNG from the sanctioned FSU 'Saam.' Interestingly, the ship has undergone a series of name changes in 2026 alone, initially being identified as 'Akit LNG,' transitioned to 'Lake LNG,' and subsequently rebranded to its current moniker. Another vessel affected by the new sanctions is the 'Pioneer' (IMO: 9255282), which has made frequent calls at the port of Murmansk. Since July 2024, the ownership of this tanker has shifted to Reliable Marine Solutions DMCC, a firm operating out of Dubai. This expanded sanctions list underscores the EU’s commitment to counteract Russia's military actions and economic strategies amidst the ongoing conflict.

On June 16, 2026, the United Kingdom enacted sanctions against four liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, namely 'Orion', 'Merkuriy', 'Kosmos', and 'Luch.' These vessels are linked to Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 initiative and mark a significant step as the first G7 nation to impose restrictions on these newly acquired vessels aimed at boosting exports from the notoriously sanctioned Arctic facility. The UK government revealed that these carriers are part of an extensive LNG 'shadow fleet,' assembled by Russian energy giant Novatek to navigate the logistical challenges posed by Western sanctions against the Arctic LNG 2 project. Authorities indicated they have credible reasons to believe these vessels have been engaged in transporting Russian LNG to various third countries. In particular, the 'Merkuriy' has been identified as having transported liquefied natural gas originating from Russia, following a ship-to-ship transfer with the Saam FSU near Murmansk. This latest action is part of a larger initiative targeting Russia’s wartime economy, which includes sanctions against banks, military procurement operations, and over 20 oil and gas vessels. The four vessels were reportedly acquired through a network of intermediaries, subsequently reflagged, and renamed before they began their roles in Russia’s Arctic export chain. Currently, all four tankers are en route to China, transporting LNG cargoes from Arctic LNG 2, after having undergone ship-to-ship cargo transfers in the Murmansk area. This situation underlines the intricate logistics Russia has devised to sustain its export operations in light of ongoing sanctions.