Russia Sends Arctic LNG 2 Cargo East Along Northern Sea Route in Rare May Voyage

The icebreaking LNG carrier Christophe de Margerie appeared to be attempting an unusually early eastbound transit of Russia’s Northern Sea Route (NSR) this week after loading liquefied natural gas from the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project, highlighting both favorable ice conditions and mounting pressure on Moscow to sustain exports to Asia.

Ship-tracking data showed the Arc7 carrier sailing eastward in the Kara Sea as of midday May 28 after loading cargo at Arctic LNG 2 on May 26. If completed, the voyage would rank among the earliest eastbound LNG transits ever attempted along the NSR, where commercial shipping seasons traditionally begin