What Crew Members Say About North-Valley

Four MOL LNG tankers have found themselves anchored for over six months, despite the European Union's decision to lift sanctions against them. This situation arises from assurances that these vessels would no longer participate in the transportation of Russian LNG. Among the compromised fleet are the 'North Moon', 'North Ocean', and 'North Light', which faced temporary sanctions in 2025 due to alleged connections with Russian Arctic gas exports. Since the EU's sanctions were lifted, these tankers have remained idle off the coast of Indonesia, highlighting an ongoing struggle to secure employment in the current market. Meanwhile, a fourth vessel, the 'North Valley', has been without a charter and is stationed in European waters. Previously, in May 2025, the EU had designated the 'North Moon', 'North Ocean', and 'North Light' as part of its 17th sanctions package, citing their involvement in activities that bolstered the energy sector in Russia, including contributions to energy infrastructure projects tied to Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG 2. However, by July 2025, these vessels were delisted after receiving guarantees that they would refrain from transporting Russian energy. For months, the 'North Moon', 'North Ocean', and 'North Light' have been anchored near Batam under Singapore flags, while remaining insured by Japan P&I and UK P&I clubs. In contrast, the 'North Valley', which had never faced EU sanctions, has been idle along the coastlines of the Netherlands and Spain without a visible charter in the pipeline. A possible hesitation among charterers, stemming from concerns about potential future sanctions, may be contributing to this inactivity. Moreover, the unique characteristics of Arc4 ice-class carriers may be another hurdle; these vessels are specifically designed for Arctic conditions, making them less cost-effective for operations in warmer waters compared to standard LNG carriers suited for non-ice-covered routes. This lack of flexibility narrows the operational landscape for the four tankers, as only a handful of LNG export and import terminals, particularly those associated with Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG 2, necessitate their specialized capabilities.