Britain has sanctioned five liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers as part of a new package of sanctions against Russia's efforts to expand its maritime fleet. These sanctions include three Arc7 icebreakers designed to support the Arctic LNG 2 project.
Details of the Sanctions
The five tankers mentioned in the October 1 sanctions announcement include Chaivo, Portovyy, Aleksey Kosygin, Konstantin Posyet, and Pyotr Stolypin. These vessels are subject to Britain's maritime and commercial sanctions, which prohibit their operations and charters, ban their entry into British ports, and limit the provision of a wide range of maritime services.
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Impacts on Russia's Maritime Fleet
The Aleksey Kosygin, Konstantin Posyet, and Pyotr Stolypin vessels are part of a larger series of icebreaker tankers under construction for Russia's Arctic LNG program. Aleksey Kosygin is scheduled for delivery in December 2025, and Konstantin Posyet is set to be launched in June 2026. Pyotr Stolypin was prepared for sea trials at the Zvezda shipbuilding plant in September.
The sanctioning of Pyotr Stolypin before it enters commercial service is significant, as Britain seeks to limit Russia's future LNG shipping capacity. These vessels are particularly important because Arc7 ships are designed to navigate through heavy Arctic ice without the need for escort.
The other two sanctioned tankers, Chaivo and Portovyy, are more traditional LNG vessels that have been involved in transporting LNG from Russia to third countries. Portovyy is operated by Gazprom and undertook an unusual journey eastward this summer.
This sanctions package includes eight vessels, including three oil tankers from the shadow fleet and two fuel supply ships. The British government has announced that this package includes 23 individuals and entities and eight vessels that are subject to maritime and commercial restrictions.
These new measures come as Britain prepares to further limit Russian LNG trade. Existing licensing agreements for the maritime transport of Russian LNG have been extended in a targeted and limited manner for a specified period to support energy security in Japan and South Korea.
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