Moscow Expands Gas Transport Fleet Ahead of EU Ban

Russia has been quietly expanding its gas transport fleet in anticipation of EU bans on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) from 2027. According to maritime data, at least eight second-hand oil tankers have been recently sold for LNG transport, increasing the fleet to 25 ships.

The new additions include two domestically built tankers, which will allow Moscow to maintain gas deliveries despite increasingly severe restrictions. This expansion is expected to help Russia maintain its market share in the face of the EU's ban.

Russia's phantom fleet relies on ships registered in foreign jurisdictions and uses tactics such as signal jamming to hide the origin of the cargoes. China remains the main buyer of Russian LNG, while Russia seeks to diversify its supply sources despite the challenges encountered in building new ships.