The UK has sanctioned five ships and two companies for their role in shipping Russian LNG, including from the country’s expanding Arctic projects.
The British government said it is the first time it has used new powers to target individual LNG carriers. It has targeted 25 oil tankers since July.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: “The UK has now sanctioned 15 vessels and entities involved in the Russian LNG sector and we will continue to bear down on this important source of funding for Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine.”
The vessels targeted are the 138,000-cbm Pioneer (ex-Pioneer Spirit, built 2005), 137,231-cbm Asya Energy (ex-Trader IV, built 2002), 149,700-cbm Nova Energy (ex-New Energy, built 2007), 174,000-cbm North Sky (ex-North Star, built 2024), and 174,100-cbm La Perouse (ex-SCF La Perouse, built 2020).
Some of the blacklisted ships were previously designated in August by the US.
The associated ship management companies Ocean Speedstar Solutions of Mumbai, India, and Dubai-based White Fox Ship Management were also named by Britain on Thursday after previously appearing on US sanctions lists.
TradeWinds reported on Wednesday how the Pioneer was heading into the Red Sea after transferring a cargo loaded at Novatek’s Arctic LNG 2 plant in Russia to the Nova Energy in the eastern Mediterranean.
However, it has since been reported by data trackers that the vessel may still have LNG cargo on board.
The Nova Energy has returned to Russia with some of the transshipped volumes, which are expected to be discharged onto the 361,600-cbm Saam FSU (built 2023), which is anchored to the north of Murmansk.
The listings are an attempt to limit Russian efforts to raise money for its war in Ukraine. The US, European Union and UK sanctioned the Arctic LNG 2 project earlier this year.
Russia aims to increase its global LNG market share from 8% to 20%, according to the UK government.
