A caravan of semi-submersible tankers travels from China to the Russian Arctic with power plant modules for the approved Arctic LNG 2 project. The Chinese shipyard’s previous voyage was halted due to the threat of sanctions, but it could later change ownership.
Three semi-submersible heavy aircraft carriers Ocean 28, Hunter Star and Nan Feng Zhi Xing sail from China to the Russian Arctic. According to gCaptain, the ships are transporting power plant modules for the second phase of the project to the Arctic LNG 2 from the Zhoushan shipyard.
The information in the publication is confirmed by AIS data from the vessels. After refueling in Vladivostok, the caravan heads to the Northern Sea Route. The ships indicate the port of Sabetta as their destination, where the first Arctic project, Yamal LNG, is located. “Arctic LNG – 2” is located 70 kilometers away, on the other side of Ob Bay, on the Gydan Peninsula.
Previously, the second Arctic project was supposed to be equipped with gas turbines from the American Baker Hughes, but it refused to fulfill its obligations due to sanctions. Arctic LNG 2 decided to install a power plant with electric propulsion, which was built at the Wison Offshore & Marine shipyard.
The current flight is the second attempt to deliver equipment from the shipyard to Russia this year. In March, the semi-submersible vessel Wei Xiao Tian Shi set sail with two gas liquefaction modules for the third Arctic LNG 2 line to Murmansk. However, at the end of June, due to the threat of US sanctions, the Faroe Islands region took a reverse course.
Wison New Energies then announced its withdrawal from Russian projects and plans to sell the shipyard. It may have a new owner, while Wison New Energies announced the construction of a new one.
“The onshore power plant was built at the Wison New Energies shipyard in Zhoushan between late 2022 and summer 2024.” – gCaptain reports. The publication notes that the Chinese caravan is heading to the Northern Sea Route at a time when navigation along it begins to be closed due to the early formation of ice.
“Russia’s Northern Sea Route Administration announced that non-ice class ships must clear the route by October 10. Ocean 28 is carrying strategically important cargo and will likely receive all necessary assistance to reach its destination. The Russian fleet of nuclear icebreakers is currently preparing to begin a winter mission to keep sea routes open,” writes the specialized publication.
As reported EADaily The Arctic LNG 2 project should become the third major LNG project in Russia, with a capacity of about 20 million tons (27 billion cubic meters of gas) per year. In November 2023, the United States imposed direct sanctions on Arctic LNG 2.
The first of three stages was put into operation in December last year. However, shipments only began in August this year. The US Treasury is imposing sanctions on all organizations and vessels that may be related to the project. As a result, removal began when a fleet of gray gas carriers was formed, the owners of which are unknown. After this, they were hit by a wave of sanctions.
The Russian government plans to almost triple LNG production by 2035 to 100 million tons per year. The United States has announced that they are canceling the Arctic LNG 2 project.
