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CommoditiesMedium•29 June 2026•

2 min read

Russia Adds New LNG Tanker to Dark Fleet as Arctic LNG 2 Exports Rise

Key Facts

1Reuters reported that the newly flagged Russian tanker Arctic Express loaded a cargo of LNG from a floating storage facility used by the U.S.-sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project.

2The 19-year-old vessel, previously named Queen Cassiopeia and flagged in Sierra Leone, had its ownership transferred to St. Petersburg-based SMP Techmanagement LLC.

In a move that underscores Russia's growing defiance of Western sanctions, media reports indicate that Moscow added a new LNG tanker to its dark fleet, with the Arctic Express loading a cargo from a floating storage facility tied to the U.S.-sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project. The 19-year-old vessel, previously named Queen Cassiopeia and flagged in Sierra Leone, had its ownership transferred to St. Petersburg-based SMP Techmanagement LLC. This follows reports that Russia has ramped up output from the controversial Arctic project.

This step is part of Russia's broader use of a shadow fleet to export oil and gas while evading sanctions. The Arctic LNG 2 project is a key target of U.S. sanctions aimed at limiting Russia's resource revenues. According to earlier data, Russia has been transshipping LNG from this project at sea to complicate tracking. The expansion of the dark fleet could boost Russian LNG exports, adding to global oversupply concerns.

As Arctic LNG 2 output continues to rise, traders are watching for the impact of additional supply on global LNG prices, which are already under pressure. No specific spot prices are available for these cargoes at this time, but the addition of more dark-fleet vessels is seen as bearish for the market. Any further U.S. sanctions targeting Russia's maritime logistics could also provide near-term price support.