🚢❄️ Arctic Mulan Resumes Movement: Russian LNG Back in Motion Amid Sanctions
After months of idleness, the Russian LNG carrier Arctic Mulan (79,800 m³), formerly known as Mulan, docked at the floating storage unit Koryak FSU (360,000 m³) in Bechevinskaya Bay, Kamchatka, on the night of June 2. The vessel had been in ballast for the past five months, suggesting it may now be loading LNG from the storage barge.
According to industry insiders, the ship’s rapid repositioning from the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal and the Indian Ocean may signal that Novatek has secured a buyer for sanctioned LNG from the Arctic LNG 2 project. Unconfirmed reports point to China as the possible destination, although Arctic Mulan’s current itinerary remains undisclosed.
The vessel last loaded LNG at Arctic LNG 2 on September 22, 2024, and discharged it at Saam FSU near Murmansk on December 20. Since then, it remained idle — first in the North Sea, then in the Eastern Mediterranean. On May 28, Arctic Mulan received authorization to transit the Northern Sea Route (NSR) between July 1 and October 31 — another clue suggesting renewed summer operations in the Arctic.
Also approaching Koryak FSU is another vessel from the so-called “shadow fleet” — Nova Energy (formerly New Energy), which still holds an LNG cargo originally loaded on October 2, 2024. After eight months adrift, boil-off losses are estimated at 30–40% of the initial volume. Its upcoming rendezvous with Koryak FSU likely involves tank replenishment before following Arctic Mulan to a potential buyer.
Previously, Koryak FSU received LNG transfers from three other shadow fleet carriers:
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Arctic Metagaz (ex-Everest Energy) on September 22, 2024
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Sputnik Energy (ex-Pioneer) on December 25, 2024
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East Energy (ex-Asya Energy) on February 11, 2025
This activity drained much of the remaining capacity of the former Soviet LNG fleet. If Novatek, majority owner of Arctic LNG 2, plans to use Koryak FSU as a hub this summer, customs clearance processes will need to begin soon.
Meanwhile, AIS signal manipulation — common during past Arctic LNG 2 shipments — may already be underway. Nova Energy is currently showing signs of signal interference, though it’s too early to determine the intent.
This may mark a new phase in Russia’s efforts to circumvent sanctions and revive its LNG export routes, even as legal and logistical risks remain high.
