Iris

Russia’s Arctic LNG shadow fleet appeared to be operating largely undeterred by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, with at least seven tankers recently transiting or currently en route through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait en route to and from Asia, even as many global shipping operators were rerouting their ships to avoid the region. Vessels lifting Russian LNG from the Arctic have continued to use the shortcut to Asia. At least seven tankers linked to Russia’s Arctic LNG trade have either recently passed through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait or are currently sailing towards the corridor en route to China. The southbound 'La Perouse' has completed its transit of the Suez Canal and entered the Red Sea, while the northbound 'Arctic Pioneer' was approaching the canal after passing through the Red Sea. Further south, the 'Arctic Mulan' and the 'Iris' were sailing east after clearing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. In the Indian Ocean, the 'Nova Energy' and 'Arctic Vostok' remained on course for the Red Sea and Suez, while the 'Arctic Metagaz' was heading toward the canal from the Mediterranean.The movements contrasted with the mounting uncertainty over Qatari exports, which must pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that has seen slower traffic and heightened security concerns in recent days.

Russia’s LNG shadow fleet wais struggling to keep the momentum going with winter approaching. LNG carriers made 13 deliveries to China’s Beihai terminal since the end of August, shipments now appeared to slow down. In the North Atlantic, the 'Zarya'Ä made a u-turn just off the coast of the Faroe Islands on Nov 6, seemingly now heading for Murmansk. The vessel had loaded cargo at Arctic LNG 2 a week earlier. The pickup on Oc 31 was the 12th and last loading so far at the plant in 2025. The 'Voskhod' and 'Buran' had struggled through the ice-covered Arctic following behind nuclear icebreakers. Their journeys were likely be the last for Arc4 ice-class vessels via the waters of the Northern Sea Route until mid-summer of 2026. The 'Iris' offloaded cargo at China’s Beihai terminal on Oct 2, but returned to the facility just two weeks later after turning around off China’s eastern coast. Analysts were perplexed by the action, wondering if Iris’ cargo may have been initially rejected due to being off spec. The 'Arctic Pioneer' arrived at the Koryak FSU in Kamchatka on Oct 30 to load cargo. After holding outside Bechevinskaya Bay for a week, the vessel returned to Koryak again on Nov 8. The 'Christophe de Margerie', the only high ice-class LNG carrier available for transport of sanctioned gas, arrived outside Koryak nearly two weeks ago. and finally called at the FSU on Nov 5. The ship has remained at anchor outside the bay since then. For much of the past three months the vessel has been shuttling LNG from Arctic LNG 2 to Koryak at a steady clip, completing four trips in two months at times exceeding 20 knots along the Northern Sea Route – close to its maximum speed in open water. With its Arc7 ice classification, the 'Christophe de Margerie' is the sole LNG carrier in service of the project still capable of transiting the icy Northern Sea Route. The vessel’s recent inactivity suggested the start of reduced production at Arctic LNG 2 until northern shipping lanes open up again in July 2026.

Several LNG tankers are heading to Asia from the Russian export facility Arctic LNG 2 plant in Siberia, sanctioned by the US, potentially testing Washington’s resolve to crack down on the trade amid high-level talks over the war in Ukraine. The 'Iris' and 'Voskhod' (IMO: 9953511) started their voyages to North Asia via the Northern Sea Route on Aug. 15 after being idled for weeks. Two other tankers that recently loaded at the plant also started heading toward Asia last week. It was unclear if the four vessels currently heading toward Asia will ultimately find buyers. About a dozen ships, including those that can navigate icy waters, have been marshaled to potentially service Arctic LNG 2, with some changing management companies several times to help obfuscate their actual owners. The Arctic LNG 2 produced eight cargoes in summer 2024, but was forced to shut in October. as it failed to find buyers and as ice started its seasonal build-up around the facility. The plant, initially sanctioned by the Biden administration, resumed loading in June but no cargoes have docked at an import facility yet.

The 'Iris' has berthed at Russia's Arctic LNG 2 plant on June 26. If the vessel picks up gas, it would mark the 9th LNG cargo to be offloaded from the Arctic LNG 2 project. The last shipment was loaded onto the tanker 'Arctic Metagaz' on Oct 5, 2024. Also in that month, the U.S. state department imposed sanctions on registered owners and managers of several LNG vessels including Iris, which was previously known as 'North Sky'.

The sanctioned 'Iris' (ex 'North Sky') passed through the Kara Gate entering Russia’s Northern Sea Route on June 24, likely heading for the Arctic LNG 2 plant. The move came after the vessel spent months in ballast idling in the Barents Sea. The vessel is currently displaying Sabetta as destination on AIS; possibly a ruse. A visit by a blocked LNG carrier to the unsanctioned Yamal LNG project would be a highly unusual and potentially risky move by project owner Novatek. For much of the past nine months a dozen sanctioned LNG carriers have remained largely idle and scattered across the Barents Sea on the European side and the Sea of Japan in the Far East, waiting for Arctic sea ice to recede.

During the recent days of late May, 2025, at least a half-dozen sanctioned LNG carriers have received permits to sail Russia’s Northern Sea Route during the summer months. The vessels were including the last summer’s shadow fleet carriers 'Arctic Metagas' (ex-'Everest Energy') and 'Arctic Mulan' (ex-'Mulan'), as well as the recently-reflagged and sanctioned tanker 'Iris' (ex-'North Sky'), 'Buran' (ex-'North Air'), 'Voskhod (ex-'North Mountain'), and 'Zarya' (ex-'North Way'). In total, almost 30 LNG tankers have now been granted permits to travel through Russia’s Arctic waters in the coming months. Among them are at least six conventional gas tankers without any ice-class. The bulk of the fleet remained unsanctioned and was operating legally, carrying liquefied gas from the Yamal LNG project.