Working Conditions Aboard the Perle

On November 9, 2023, the LNG tanker 'CCH Gas' (IMO 9307205) was spotted near Hainan Island, marking its reappearance after a clandestine ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of sanctioned Russian gas. This occurred three weeks following the vessel's cargo exchange with the 'Perle' on October 18, noted as a historic event for Russian gas transportation. Both tankers attempted to camouflage their movements by manipulating their AIS signals. Satellite images revealed the two vessels side by side approximately 50 nautical miles off the coast of Malaysia. Despite 'CCH Gas' continuing to broadcast false AIS signals, the 'Perle' has since activated its transponder again and is en route to Salalah. The STS transfer went undetected for a period thanks to inclement weather and limited satellite visibility. The 'CCH Gas' is now transporting supercooled gas sourced from Russia's sanctioned Baltic Portovaya plant, which has been under U.S. sanctions since January 10. This delivery could indicate China’s increasing interest in diversifying its gas imports at the Beihai terminal, potentially extending beyond the current Arctic LNG 2 project. Reports suggest that China is securing discounts of up to 40% on deliveries from Arctic LNG 2, with the cost of landed cargoes at Beihai estimated at around $7.00/MMBtu, significantly below prevailing spot rates. Due to a shortage of ice-capable LNG carriers, the Russian gas giant Novatek may find itself compelled to temporarily suspend operations at the Arctic project for the next 6 to 8 months. Meanwhile, conventional gas tankers are being rerouted through the Suez Canal as they can no longer utilize the Arctic route.

On October 18, 2025, Russia marked a significant milestone in its energy strategy by conducting its inaugural ship-to-ship transfer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) using vessels from its shadow fleet, specifically the 'Perle' and 'CCH Gas' (IMO: 9307205). This operation signals a pivotal shift as Russia seeks to circumvent Western sanctions and expand its energy export capabilities. The 'Perle' was transporting LNG from Gazprom's Portovaya LNG facility, located in the Baltic Sea, which faced U.S. sanctions in January 2025 that severely limited its access to foreign markets. In a strategic move to mask the cargo's origin and protect buyers from potential sanctions, the transfer occurred approximately 50 nautical miles off the eastern coast of Malaysia. For further details and images, visit the full report at gCaptain.

On August 9, 2018, the LNG carrier Pskov achieved a significant milestone by loading its inaugural shipment at the Port of Sabetta, located in the Yamal region of Russia. This cargo represents the first output from the newly launched second production train of the Yamal LNG facility. Remarkably, this launch took place six months ahead of its anticipated schedule. The Pskov, an advanced Atlanticmax LNG carrier with a cargo capacity of 170,000 cubic meters, was specifically constructed for Sovcomflot Group in 2014. The vessel operates under a long-term time charter agreement with Gazprom and is currently sub-chartered to Yamal LNG, facilitating the transport of liquefied natural gas from the Yamal Peninsula to various ports across Western Europe.

On September 10, 2014, Sovcomflot marked a significant milestone with the maiden voyage of its LNG carrier, Pskov. Departing from the port of Progorodnoye, the vessel is en route to Incheon in the Republic of Korea, as reported by the press center of Transas Group. Pskov stands as the second unit in a series of four state-of-the-art membrane-type gas carriers, each boasting a capacity of 170,000 cubic meters. These vessels are being constructed by STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. under the commission of Russia's leading shipping enterprise, Sovcomflot. The Pskov was officially handed over to its operator on August 29, 2014, following in the footsteps of its predecessor, Velikiy Novgorod, which was launched on January 15, 2013.

In a significant development for the maritime industry, Gazprom Marketing & Trading (GM&T) has successfully bunkered its newly delivered LNG carrier, 'Pskov', at the port of Nakhodka in Russia's Primorskiy Region. This event marks a historic moment, as it is the first instance of a GM&T time-chartered LNG vessel refueling in a Russian port. The bunkering operation was conducted by GazpromNeft Marine Bunker, another subsidiary of Gazprom. Following the completion of the bunkering process, 'Pskov' made its way to Prigorodnoye, home to the LNG terminal associated with the Gazprom-majority owned 'Sakhalin-2' project. The vessel is set to undergo gassing up and cooling down of its cargo tanks before loading LNG, which it will then transport as its inaugural cargo to a customer in Asia. GM&T's Shipping Managing Director, Nikolai Grigoriev, emphasized the strategic importance of Nakhodka as an emerging international bunkering hub, highlighting its potential for cost savings and optimization of voyages for businesses operating in the Asian market. He noted, 'Bunkering our time-chartered LNG carrier 'Pskov' at Nakhodka is a milestone for GM&T, reflecting our growing shipping capabilities and flexibility, especially for future ventures like the Vladivostok LNG project.' The LNG carrier 'Pskov' is equipped with state-of-the-art membrane tanks, offering a cargo capacity of 170,200 cubic meters. It boasts an Ice2 ice class certification and winterization capabilities, while being powered by a tri-fuel diesel-electric propulsion system. The vessel is currently on long-term charter from Sovcomflot and contributes to GM&T's expanding fleet of Ice class vessels.