Data shows that Russian LNG tankers are avoiding the Arctic as winter approaches.

LSEG data on Thursday showed that ships carrying Russian liquefied gas (LNG), to Asia, are returning to longer routes around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope instead of those along the Arctic coast as the winter season starts.

The new Arctic LNG 2 project in Russia also lacks sufficient ice-class tankers to continue the navigation along Northern Sea Route. However, some of these tankers still do so.

According to LSEG, the LNG Megrez conventional gas tanker loaded at Yamal LNG on October 2 and began its journey around Africa to Asia. Arrival is set for November 13.

Seapeak Yamal will also travel past the southern tip Africa, judging from its arrival date of November 23. The final destination of the vessels is still unknown.

The Velikiy Nogorod tanker has been loaded at Gazprom’s Portovaya facility on the Baltic Sea and will be dispatched on November 21.

As of October 22, Russia has announced traffic restrictions at the port Sabetta which services the Yamal LNG Plant due to the formation of ice.

Since late last year, shipping companies have diverted vessels to avoid a route which would take them through Egypt’s Suez Canal.

Metagas Everest (formerly known as Everest Energy) is the last vessel that will load Arctic LNG 2, the sanctioned LNG by the United States due to the conflict in Ukraine.

The cargo was received on October 7th and has yet to be removed from the Kara Sea. LSEG data shows no new loadings for the project. (Reporting and Editing by Kirsten Doovan)

(source: Reuters)