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Sanctioned tankers permitted to sail Northern Sea Route

During the recent days of late May, 2025, at least a half-dozen sanctioned LNG carriers have received permits to sail Russia’s Northern Sea Route during the summer months. The vessels were including the last summer’s shadow fleet carriers 'Arctic Metagas' (ex-'Everest Energy') and 'Arctic Mulan' (ex-'Mulan'), as well as the recently-reflagged and sanctioned tanker 'Iris' (ex-'North Sky'), 'Buran' (ex-'North Air'), 'Voskhod (ex-'North Mountain'), and 'Zarya' (ex-'North Way'). In total, almost 30 LNG tankers have now been granted permits to travel through Russia’s Arctic waters in the coming months. Among them are at least six conventional gas tankers without any ice-class. The bulk of the fleet remained unsanctioned and was operating legally, carrying liquefied gas from the Yamal LNG project.

Ship added to EU sanction list

The European Union has adopted its newest sanctions package on Dec 16, 2024, at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, adding 52 new vessels, among them the 'North Way', to the sanctions list that have been deemed by the EU to be supporting Russia’s war machine. The vessels that have been sanctioned are primarily involved in circumventing the oil price cap mechanism implemented by the West, in arms deliveries, and in the transportation of stolen grain. This latest package has brought the total number of vessels sanctioned by the EU to 79. The majority of the vessels are involved in the transport of Russian oil and in transporting arms for the Russian military. The sanctions package also targets a total of 54 individuals and 30 entities that are deemed to be bolstering Russia’s war effort. Among them, there are also entities and individuals in China and North Korea who have been deemed to be supplying Russia with dual-use materials to support Russia’s military efforts. Two senior North Korean officials and seven Chinese individuals and companies have been targeted in the latest sanctions. The purpose of the sanctions has been defined to increase the operational costs for Russia by banning them from ports in the EU and hindering them from receiving maritime services.

Process of cancelling registration underway

The Panamanian authorities announced on Nov 6 to have initiated the process of canceling the registration of the 'North Way', 'North Sky', 'North Mountain' and 'North Air', which have been sanctioned by the US for illicit activities. Their registrations, along with other navigation documents provided by Panama, were to be revoked. All tankers are owned by the New Transshipment FZE, which is a subsidiary of Nthe ovatek, and were alleged by the US to have been part of the Russian dark fleet and having carried shipments from the Russian Yamal and Arctic LNG 2 projects. On Oct 18, the, incumbent president José Raúl Molino had issued a decree to establish a framework for swiftly canceling registrations and licenses for vessels that appeared on the sanctions list of the US, EU, or UK. Along with the cancellation of registration and all navigation documents issued by Panama, any other organizations that are recognized by Panama are also barred from providing classification or certification to these vessels.