For the first time, an EU sanctions package against Russia has targeted Yamal LNG by including an Arc7 LNGC in the list of ships to be hit.
In the 15th round of sanctions revealed by the EU this week, the list included the LNGC ‘Christophe de Margerie’, the first of the 15 vessel series built to export gas from Yamal.
She is allegedly affiliated with Russian shipping company, Sovcomflot, although her direct ownership is now being shown as UAE-based Zelitiko Shipping, according to the Equasis database.
Since the end of 2017, Yamal has delivered around 100 mill tonnes of LNG to Europe.
It was believed that the sanction against the Arc7 will come to the fore when the EU’s transhipment ban on Russian LNG takes effect at the end of March, 2025.
This transhipment ban will mean that EU terminals, such as Belgium’s Zeebrugge and France’s Montoir, will no longer be allowed to transfer LNG from Yamal Arc7s to conventional LNGCs for onward shipment, thus increasing the Arc7s sailing distance to a final destination, or requiring ship-to-ship (STS) transfers, probably in Russian waters, near Murmansk.
In addition, at least three LNGCs, believed connected to Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ carrying gas from Arctic LNG 2, were said to be idling in the Barents Sea and the Sea Japan, as no buyer could be found for the cargoes.
Additional measures are expected in the 16th sanctions package, possibly due as early as January, next year.
