Key takeaways
- Three LNG tankers, Velikiy Novgorod, Pskov and La Perouse, have been handed over to Matias Ship Management in Dubai.
- These ships were previously operated by Gazprom and Sovcomflot and now sail with Portovaya LNG, which is exempt from Western sanctions.
- The transfer came as the United Kingdom imposed its most significant round of sanctions to date against Russia’s shadow fleet.
Three LNG tankers previously operated by Gazprom and Sovcomflot are now owned by a newly established company in Dubai, Matias Ship Management. This transfer took place in September, as revealed by Bloomberg, which relies on data from the global shipping database Equasis.
Matias Ship Management’s registered address is at Meydan Hotel in Dubai, in a free trade zone. This zone is also home to other companies suspected of helping Russia build its shadow fleet of oil and LNG tankers.
Operational details
These three ships, Velikiy Novgorod, Pskov and La Perouse, operate at Portovaya LNG, a smaller export plant on Russia’s Baltic Sea. Importantly, Portovaya LNG is exempt from Western sanctions and export restrictions.
Consequences of sanctions
Interestingly, two of these tankers, the Velikiy Novgorod and La Perouse, are currently under British sanctions. The UK recently imposed its most significant round of sanctions yet against Russia’s shadow fleet and designated even more oil tankers and LNG carriers in an effort to curtail crucial revenue streams for Vladimir Putin.
Russian shadow fleet
Russia is actively building a “shadow fleet” of tankers to transport its LNG, echoing the tactics used after the invasion of Ukraine to circumvent Western sanctions on oil and product exports. Recent departures from the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 terminal in northern Russia highlight Moscow’s continued attempts to circumvent these restrictions.
Lifting sanctions
In augustus reinforced the US State Department announced measures against Russian exports of Arctic LNG 2, focusing on ships that loaded LNG from the facility and companies involved in the development of the project.
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Welcome Aboard the LNG Circus! 🎪
Gather round, ladies and gentlemen, as we dive into the whimsical world of LNG shipping where the only thing more convoluted than the vessel registrations is the dance moves at your local disco! Today’s headline acts are three LNG tankers—let’s give it up for the Velikiy Novgorod, Pskov, and La Perouse—who have traded in their hefty Gazprom and Sovcomflot life jackets for the swanky new logo of Matias Ship Management from Dubai. Yes, that’s right, the glamorous city of gold that can turn a yacht into a tax haven faster than you can say “money laundering”! 💰
Sanction Shenanigans 👀
- From Gazprom to Dubai: It’s like going from a Michelin-starred restaurant to a questionable hot dog stand on the side of the road, isn’t it? But don’t fret, this side of the street’s exempt from Western sanctions! Lucky for them, right?
- LNG & Portovaya LNG: Our trio of ships now waltz in and out of Portovaya LNG, a lovely little corner of Russia’s Baltic Sea where sanctions are apparently just a suggestion. It’s like an unlimited buffet where you can pick and choose what you want—just avoid the vegetables if you know what’s good for you!
- Shadow fleet madness: Who needs a well-lit room when you’ve got Russia’s shadow fleet creeping around like a bad horror movie? Recently, the UK decided to draw its proverbial sword and take a stab at curtailing this crafty fleet, adding more oil tankers and LNG carriers to their ‘no-no’ list. It’s like trying to catch a ghost—you’re not even sure you got it until it’s already reappeared behind you!
There’s Always a Catch… Or Three 💘
So, here we are with two of these ships now undeniably under UK sanctions. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the Velikiy Novgorod and La Perouse are straddling that fine line between “too hot to handle” and “you should have stayed with Gazprom!” How delightful. It’s like being caught with your hand in the cookie jar and then trying to blame the cookie for being so irresistible!
Creating a Shadow Army: Not Just for Halloween! 🕷️
Now, let’s talk about our main players—Russia and its shadow fleet. While they’re quietly going about building their covert little armada, the rest of us are left wondering if we should be sending them an Amazon gift card or just a sternly worded email. Their tactics mirror the classic ‘now you see it, now you don’t’ approach. Seriously, if they were any better at this, they’d be magicians—“Watch closely, as I make your humanitarian aid disappear!” ✨
Keeping it Under Wraps 📜
Now the U.S. State Department is throwing in their two cents, clamping down on exports from the Arctic LNG 2 terminal. Because who doesn’t love a good game of economic whack-a-mole? “Oh look, they added three new tanks—whack! But wait, there’s a rabbit in the hat!” 🐇
The Grand Finale 🎉
In conclusion, as we navigate these choppy waters of LNG—it’s all fun and games until someone gets sanctioned! So, what’s it going to be? A cruise to a glittering Dubai marina or a one-way ticket to the international doghouse? If this circus of LNG shipping and shadow fleets has taught us anything, it’s that when it comes to international sanctions, there are always loopholes big enough to sail a supertanker through! Stay cheeky, my friends! 🎭
