What Crew Members Say About Nikolay-Urvantsev

On February 19, 2024, Russia made history by executing its first-ever three concurrent LNG ship-to-ship (STS) transfers in the Murmansk region, highlighting Moscow's ability to adapt its maritime logistics for Arctic gas transportation amidst ongoing Western sanctions against its energy exports. This groundbreaking operation included two STS transfers at the Saam floating storage unit (FSU), where liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Arctic LNG 2 project, currently under sanctions, was simultaneously offloaded and prepared for reloading onto other vessels. The third operation occurred near Kildin Island, featuring cargo sourced from the Yamal LNG project, which remains unsanctioned. During the Saam FSU transfers, the ice-class vessel 'Christophe de Margerie' (IMO number: 9760813) unloaded its cargo from Arctic LNG 2, while the tanker 'Arctic Metagaz' loaded the LNG for further transit, likely destined for China's Beihai LNG terminal, the only confirmed destination for shipments from the sanctioned project thus far. A similar operation had previously taken place at the same FSU in early January. Meanwhile, the Arc7 carrier 'Nikolay Urvantsev' (IMO number: 9866587), which was carrying LNG from the Yamal LNG project, completed an STS transfer at Kildin anchorage, with its cargo potentially heading towards European or Asian markets aboard the conventional tanker 'LNG Phecda' (IMO number: 9466735). This triple STS transfer marks a significant advancement in Russian Arctic LNG logistics coordination, demonstrating the nation's innovative strategies to maintain gas flows to global markets, despite escalating sanctions. While restrictions have complicated the logistics of Arctic LNG 2 shipments, they have pushed Russia to rely on FSU facilities, STS operations, and a developing network of unmonitored tankers. In 2024, vessels involved in the project frequently operated with AIS tracking turned off or were utilizing spoofing techniques; however, recent transparent transfers indicate a growing confidence in established trade routes due to a lack of new enforcement measures. Notably, while the Beihai terminal has been sanctioned by the UK, the absence of recent actions from the US has enabled Russia to effectively navigate its Arctic LNG 2 export strategies.

With the onset of the summer maintenance season, the Fayard A/S shipyard in Odense has welcomed its first Arc7 ice-class LNG carriers linked to the Yamal LNG project. The 'Nikolay Urvantsev', assigned to Novatek's Yamal project, docked at the facility on June 26, 2025, recently departing around a week later. Following closely, the Arc7 LNG carrier 'Fedor Litke' (IMO: 9768370), operated by Dynagas, arrived at the yard on July 17, after a delivery in Dunkerque, where it stayed in drydock as of July 24. The maintenance schedules for these Arctic LNG carriers have been notably expedited, owing to the challenging conditions they face along Russia’s Northern Sea Route. Damen Shiprepair is primarily addressing hull maintenance needs, essential for vessels that routinely navigate through dense Arctic sea ice. The company has confirmed its adherence to all international sanctions against Russia, ensuring that none of the activities at the yard contravene international laws as the vessels have not been directly sanctioned by the U.S. or the EU. However, the procurement of spare parts has become a formidable challenge. Suppliers of critical components, such as gas chromatographs and flow meters vital for LNG operations, have begun to impose restrictions on end-users, ceasing deliveries to vessels within the Yamal fleet due to sanction-related concerns. Many sanctioned LNG carriers, including an Arc7 and several Arc4 ice-class ships, have been increasingly turning to Chinese shipyards for maintenance. Notably, the Arc7 LNG carrier 'Christophe de Margerie' spent several months at a repair facility on Zhoushan Island, located east of Shanghai, during the summer of 2024. Presently, two additional sanctioned Russian gas carriers, the 'Sputnik Energy' (IMO: 9256602) and the 'Nova Energy' (IMO: 9324277), remain under maintenance at Zhoushan yards.

In a strategic move following the European Union's recent ban on the transshipment of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), Russia successfully executed a double ship-to-ship (STS) transfer involving four LNG tankers. The operation took place between March 28 and March 31, 2025, at the Kildin anchorage near Murmansk. Two of the tankers, the 'Nikolay Urvantsev' and the 'Vladimir Rusanov' (IMO: 9750701), are managed by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. They rendezvoused with 'Lena River' (IMO: 9629598) and 'Clean Vision' (IMO: 9655456) for the complex transfer. All four vessels were loaded with supercooled gas sourced from the Yamal LNG project, which is overseen by the Russian company Novatek. The transfer, which typically requires between 36 to 48 hours to complete, highlights Russia's adeptness at maneuvering around restrictive sanctions. The 'Lena River' had previously departed from China towards the end of 2024 and spent several weeks idling in the North, Celtic, and Barents Seas. Meanwhile, the 'Clean Vision' set sail from Mirs Bay near Shenzhen on February 21. The 'Nikolay Urvantsev' and 'Vladimir Rusanov' departed from the Yamal LNG facility about a week ahead of the STS operation.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), a leading Japanese shipping company, has recently celebrated the naming of its third ice-breaking LNG carrier, the 'Nikolay Urvantsev.' This milestone event took place at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. (DSME) and was attended by distinguished guests, including representatives from PAO Novatek, the primary shareholder of the Yamal LNG project. The new vessel is named after the illustrious Russian Arctic explorer and geologist Nikolay Urvantsev, recognizing his contributions to Arctic exploration. This latest addition to the fleet joins its sister ships, 'Vladimir Rusanov' and 'Vladimir Vize,' which commenced their LNG transportation services back in 2018 under a long-term charter agreement, designed specifically for the Yamal LNG Project. MOL's continuing partnership with China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited exemplifies the commitment to fortifying energy logistics in the Arctic region.