Russia expands shadow fleet to boost Arctic LNG exports

Russia is significantly expanding its “shadow fleet” to facilitate liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, particularly from the Arctic LNG 2 project. Data indicates that the number of vessels serving the project and related facilities has nearly doubled, rising from 11 vessels in late December 2025 to at least 20 by early September.

These vessels often feature opaque ownership structures, a hallmark of shadow fleets used to bypass international restrictions. Notably, Russia has added an advanced ice-class LNG carrier to this group, capable of year-round navigation in the Arctic. This addition aims to mitigate logistical bottlenecks during harsh winter months, ensuring consistent exports to markets like China even as the European Union moves toward phasing out Russian LNG.

According to maritime intelligence firm Windward, Russia has been preemptively acquiring older LNG vessels before new EU restrictions take effect in early 2027. This strategy allows Moscow to maintain energy revenue by operating outside traditional Western maritime systems.