A Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanker that recently shifted to a Russian flag appears to be loading fuel from a U.S.-sanctioned energy project.

According to ship-tracking data compiled by Kpler, the vessel Merkuriy docked next to the Saam floating storage unit near Murmansk in western Russia.

The Saam unit is a blacklisted facility used to store LNG from the Arctic LNG 2 project, a development currently under heavy Western restrictions intended to throttle Moscow’s energy revenue.

The deployment of the Merkuriy marks a significant escalation in Russia’s efforts to build a “dark fleet” capable of circumventing international sanctions.

The vessel exhibits several characteristics common to shadow fleet operations, including an advanced age for an LNG carrier and a recent ownership transfer to Celtic Maritime & Trading SA, a firm with little prior profile in the industry.

Previously managed by Oman Ship Management Co., the ship is one of at least four former Omani tankers that have recently switched to Russian flags and moved toward the Arctic region to potentially facilitate sanctioned exports.

These maneuvers come as Russia seeks to capitalize on a massive disruption in global energy markets.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has effectively choked off one-fifth of the world’s gas supply, sending prices higher and leaving Asian importers searching for alternatives.

To entice energy-hungry customers, Moscow is reportedly offering the sanctioned shipments at deep discounts compared to prevailing spot prices.

While U.S. and European sanctions have successfully limited production at newer facilities like Arctic LNG 2, the expansion of a dedicated shadow fleet could allow Russia to bypass traditional shipping hurdles and boost deliveries to its eastern trading partners.

The emergence of the shadow vessels underscores the persistent challenge for Western regulators attempting to enforce energy blockades.

Beyond the Merkuriy, ship-tracking data indicates that three additional tankers with similar profiles are currently heading to or have arrived in the Arctic.

These developments suggest that the infrastructure for a secondary, opaque LNG market is rapidly maturing as global supply remains tight.

Source: Investing.com