Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Vladimir-Rusanov

In a bold move just days following the European Union's ban on the transshipment of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), Russia orchestrated a unique double ship-to-ship (STS) transfer involving four LNG carriers. The operation took place at the Kildin anchorage near Murmansk between March 28 and March 31, 2025, highlighting Russia's continued efforts to navigate around international sanctions. The two LNG carriers, 'Nikolay Urvantsev' (IMO: 9750660) and 'Vladimir Rusanov,' both operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd, met with the vessels 'Lena River' (IMO: 9629598) and 'Clean Vision.' All four ships were transporting supercooled LNG from Novatek's Yamal LNG project. The 'Lena River' had set sail from China at the end of 2024 and spent several weeks idle in the North, Celtic, and Barents Seas. In contrast, the 'Clean Vision' departed Mirs Bay near Shenzhen on February 21, while the 'Nikolay Urvantsev' and 'Vladimir Rusanov' had left the Yamal LNG facility about a week prior to the STS operation. Typically, an STS transfer takes approximately 36-48 hours to complete, a routine maneuver that has now gained heightened attention in light of sanctions.

(Reuters) – A significant milestone in maritime logistics was reached this week as an LNG tanker, transporting liquefied natural gas from the Yamal LNG facility, navigated through the frigid waters of the Arctic heading towards Asia. This journey aboard the Vladimir Rusanov, an Arc7-class LNG tanker engineered to operate in partially ice-covered waters, marks the inaugural trip of the 2019 summer navigation season across the Northern Sea Route. The vessel departed from Sabetta port on June 29 and is currently traversing the Chukchi Sea, near the Bering Strait, according to shipping data from Refinitiv Eikon released on Friday. Traditionally frozen for the majority of the year, the route is becoming increasingly viable for summer navigation as climate change leads to quicker and prolonged ice melt. Remarkably, vessels are now able to transit this route without requiring the assistance of ice-breakers, demonstrating a significant shift in Arctic maritime operations.

The cutting-edge icebreaking LNG carrier, 'Vladimir Rusanov,' made a historic debut at the PetroChina LNG Jiangsu Terminal in China on July 17, as part of a joint venture between Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited for the Yamal LNG project. This milestone was commemorated with a celebratory ceremony on July 19, as reported by MOL in a recent press release. Since initiating its LNG transportation operations from the Yamal LNG facility at Sabetta port in Russia in March 2018, the 'Vladimir Rusanov' has achieved significant advancements. On its latest mission, the vessel set sail from Sabetta port on June 25, successfully navigating the Northern Sea Route without icebreaker assistance for the first time. After passing through the Bering Strait on July 6, the vessel continued its journey, arriving at the Jiangsu terminal in just 19 days, a remarkable achievement compared to the traditional route via the Suez Canal, which can take over a month. This inaugural delivery marks a significant moment in the Yamal LNG Project, representing the first direct LNG shipment to China. The journey not only showcases the efficiency of the Northern Sea Route but also reinforces the growing trade relations between Russia and China in the energy sector.