CHRIS. DE MARGERIE

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Sanctioned tanker first one to berth at Train 2 of Russian Arctic LNG 2 project

On Sep 22, 2025, the 'Christophe de Margerie' was the first tanker to berth at the Utrenniy terminal of the Russian Arctic LNG 2 project , more than a year after towing the second production line to the Gydan Peninsula. The ice-class LNG carrier was originally built for the neighbouring Yamal LNG project, The tanker berthed alongside Train 2, signalling that Novatek, the plant’s majority owner, has overcome initial startup problems resulting in part from the need to replace original gas turbines with an electric drive due to supplier sanctions. This came just weeks after Moscow, for the first time, found a buyer for sanctioned LNG cargoes from the plant. For more than a year up to a million tons of supercooled gas remained afloat in the absence of buyers willing to defy U.S. sanctions. In late August, the LNG tanker 'Arctic Mulan' (IMO_ 9864837) made the first delivery to PipeChina’s Beihai terminal. Five additional offloadings have followed in quick succession, with several more vessels en route. Despite the successful startup of Train 2, challenges remained for the LNG project. Both production lines were only running at half capacity, bringing the plant’s maximum production to around 6.6 mtpa. The construction of a third train has been mothballed. Novatek currently has only one single Arc7 ice-class vessel, the 'Christophe de Margerie', at its disposal. A second tamler, the 'Aleksey Kosygin' ( (IMO: 9904546) , remained in drydock at the Russian shipyard in Bolshoy Kamen. With two Arc7 carriers Novatek would likely be able to conduct a weekly loading at Arctic LNG 2, equating to a production of around 3.5 mtpa.

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 'Christophe de Margerie', 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.

Tanker approaching Bering Strait after Arctic transit

The 'Christophe de Margerie' is approaching the Bering Strait on a risky voyage across the icy waters of the Russian Arctic shipping route.On Feb 3 it was located off the coast of Kamchatka. The ship has a northbound course and was due to arrive in Sabetta, the LNG terminal in Yamal on Feb 17. The tanker set out from the port of Yangkou on Jan 27. At the same time, the nuclear-powered icebreaker '50 Let Pobedy' on Feb 2 was sailing eastwards towards the East Siberian Sea. The two ships might meet near the Bering Strait, and the tanker subsequently escorted westwards through the thick sea-ice. The whole Northern Sea Route is now covered by ice. The straits between the mainland and archipelagos Severnaya Zemlya and New Siberian Islands are covered by thick fast ice, while the remaining part of the area has one-year old sea-ice that is between 30-200 cm thick.