Data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) shows that the liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier "Merkuriy," recently added to Russia's energy transport fleet, has completed loading its cargo. The cargo was sourced from the U.S.-sanctioned "Arctic LNG 2" project and the vessel is currently sailing westward from the waters near the Arctic port of Murmansk.
Monitoring information indicates that the "Merkuriy" completed loading on May 9 at the "Saam" floating storage unit near Murmansk, a facility primarily used for transshipment operations related to the "Arctic LNG 2" project.
In response to external sanctions and to ensure the security of its energy exports, Russia has incorporated four LNG carriers into its fleet over recent months: the "Orion," "Luch," "Merkuriy," and "Kosmos." These vessels, all built between 2005 and 2006, have recently been transferred to operate under the Russian flag through changes in ownership and re-registration.
The final destination of the "Merkuriy" has not been publicly disclosed. Sources indicate that, despite global energy supply tightening due to Middle East instability, India has declined a Russian proposal to purchase products from the "Arctic LNG 2" project over concerns about U.S. sanctions.
Moscow is accelerating efforts to diversify its LNG supply arrangements in response to policy shifts in the European market. According to European Union regulations, an import ban on short-term contracts for Russian LNG took effect on April 25 this year, with a comprehensive ban on long-term contracts scheduled for implementation starting January 1, 2027.
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