Russia-linked LNG Carrier ‘Merkuriy’ Loads at Arctic Hub, Expanding Shadow Fleet Capacity

The LNG carrier Merkuriy, recently reflagged to Russia alongside three other tankers, has been observed loading liquefied natural gas at the Saam floating storage unit (FSU), satellite imagery and automatic identification system (AIS) data show. The vessels are serving the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project.

Merkuriy is one of four LNG carriers – alongside Kosmos, Luch and Orion – that were previously part of Oman’s Asyad Shipping fleet and sold en bloc earlier this year for roughly $110 million, according to company disclosures and shipbroking sources. All four vessels have since been reflagged to Russia, according to maritime tracking data and