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Norway Holds Two Cargo Ships, Including Sanctioned Vessel Tied to Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 Project
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Norwegian authorities detained two cargo vessels off the country’s coast, including the sanctioned heavy-lift ship Ya Qing Hai Yang, which previously transported equipment for Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project, The Insider reported on October 19.
Ya Qing Hai Yang, formerly known as Ocean 28, was stopped by Norwegian authorities on October 14 and remained off the Norwegian coast as of October 19.
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Russia has used it’s shadow fleet of gas and oil tankers to evade sanctions, obscure ownership, and keep Russian oil and gas exports moving. The fleet has helped preserve energy revenues that feed the Kremlin’s war economy, allowing Moscow to continue financing its invasion of Ukraine despite Western restrictions.
The vessel is designed to transport heavy cargo rather than oil or liquefied natural gas. However, The Insider noted its previous role in supporting Arctic LNG 2, Novatek’s natural gas project on Russia’s Gydan Peninsula.
In October 2024, Ya Qing Hai Yang transported power-generation modules from China to Russia’s Utrenny port, which serves the Arctic LNG 2 project. The vessel was later sanctioned over that activity.
According to Starboard Maritime Intelligence data reviewed by The Insider, Ya Qing Hai Yang was spotted several kilometers from the Norwegian border on the Russian side earlier in October after traveling from Hong Kong along the Northern Sea Route with several stops in Russia’s Far East.
The vessel was sailing under a Guatemalan flag. The Insider noted that Guatemala does not maintain a public ship registry and cited Lloyd’s List in classifying the flag as potentially false.
Norwegian authorities confirmed the detention of Ya Qing Hai Yang, The Insider reported.
A second vessel, Jian Yang Cheng He, was also stopped. The Chinese-flagged ship is not under sanctions, and no links to Russian energy projects have been established.
Jian Yang Cheng He also departed Hong Kong in July and traveled along the Northern Sea Route before being detained near Norway, according to The Insider.
The detention comes as Western governments increasingly target the maritime network supporting Russia’s Arctic LNG exports. Earlier in October, the UK sanctioned vessels acquired to help Moscow keep LNG revenues flowing despite restrictions, including newly built tankers intended for Arctic routes.
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