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Sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tanker may receive cargo in Koryak

On the evening of June 2, 2025, the 'Arctic Mulan' (ex-'Mulan') pulled alongside the Koryak FSU in the Bechevinskaya Bay in Kamchatka. The LNG carrier has been in ballast for the past five months suggesting that it will be receiving cargo from the storage barge. Last week industry insiders had pointed to the recent dash of the 'Arctic Mulan' from the Mediterranean to Koryak in the Far East as an early indication that Novatek’s protracted search to find a buyer for sanctioned gas from Arctic LNG 2 may have concluded. A buyer has possibly been lined up for the sanctions-busting sale, possibly in China, though the destination of the 'Arctic Mulan' has remained unknown. The 'Arctic Mulan' had previously loaded LNG from the Arctic LNG 2 project on Sep 22, 2024, subsequently discharging its cargo into the Saam FSU near Murmansk on Dec 20,. Since then the vessel has idled in the North Sea and subsequently in the Eastern Mediterranean. It began a speedy trip across the Suez Canal, the Indian Ocean, and up towards Kamchatka on May 1. The vessel also received a Northern Sea Route permit on May 28, which was clearing it to sail the Arctic shipping lane between July 1 and Oct 31; a further indication that the vessel could be used for renewed attempts to load at Arctic LNG 2 during the summer. The fellow shadow fleet tanker 'Nova Energy' (ex-'New Energy') may be the next in line to load LNG at Koryak. The tanker has been holding position outside the Bechevinskaya Bay. Unlike other dark fleet vessels, which discharged their cargo into Koryak and the sister barge Saam starting in fall 2024, when no buyers could be found, the 'Nova Energy' has remained loaded with product originally received at Arctic LNG 2 on Oct 2, 2024.

Russia's LNG tankers with problems to find buyers for their cargoes

The 'Nova Energy', which appeared to be heading to one of the Russia's floating storage unit Koryak FSU to discharge its cargo, and had left Nakhodka Bay where it had been idling for weeks, initially heading to the FSU off Kamchatka, has since turned back south. It was estimated that the 'Nova Energy' was about 70% loaded. Actually it is anchored in pos. 42° 45' N 132° 56' E. The Koryak FSU has also taken on cargoes from the 'Pioneer', which is anchored in pos. 42° 45' N 132° 55' E in the Sea of Japan, and the 'Metagas Everest' recently, and may now be holding 250,000-cbm of LNG. The 'Pioneer', the 'Nova Energy' and the 'East Energy' have been idling off Russia’s Far East coast for months, laden with LNG from Novatek’s US-sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 liquefaction plant. The sanctioned ships have not been able to offload their shipments to buyers. The 'Nova Energy' and 'East Energy' transported their cargoes through the Northern Sea Route, and the 'Pioneer' transited the Suez Canal southbound. The 'Mulan' has left the North Sea in ballast at the start of Jan 2025, and initally headed northwards into the Atlantic before turning south, now with an ETA at Port Said as of Jan 16. The 'Metagas Energy', which loaded a cargo at Arctic LNG 2 in Oct 2024, and had been idling to the north of Russia, has followed the 'Mulan' into the Atlantic. The 'North Air', 'North Mountain', 'North Sky' and 'North Way' have been drifting in the Barents Sea, before the 'North Air' has started moving west, but is actually NUC in the Barents Sea.

Sanctioned tanker entered Irish EEZ

The 'New Energy', which has been named in a list of US State Department sanctions, being accused of breaching international sanctions against Russia, has been spotted off the Galway coast. The vessel entered the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on the night of Sep 18, having sailed up the coast of Portugal and across the Bay of Biscay. On Sep 5, the tanker was added to the list of sanctioned vessels and companies. It was also claimed in a US State Department statement that the 'New Energy' conducted a secret mission to transfer Russian gas: “The Department of State is targeting two entities and two vessels connected to attempts to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the U.S. sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project. The Department is sanctioning Gotik Energy Shipping Co (Gotik) and Plio Energy Cargo Shipping OPC PVT LTD (Plio Energy). Gotik and Plio Energy are the registered owner and commercial manager, respectively, of the LNG carrier (LNG/C) New Energy.” The US further claimed that the 'New Energy' used deceptive shipping practices, including shutting off its AIS to load cargo from another sanctioned vessel in late August. In the same release they also identified another ship LNG carrier 'Mulan', which is another ship owned by the company Plio Energy. The 'New Energy' has turned on its AIS tracker system off Portugal.