Russia Assembles Shadow LNG Fleet to Outmaneuver EU Ban

Russia is preparing to circumvent the European Union's (EU) planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) import ban on January 1, 2027. A 'shadow fleet' of aging and new vessels is being assembled by Moscow to transport Russian LNG exports.

The cost of a modern gas carrier is around $300 million. To build this shadow fleet, Russia intends to acquire decommissioned ships older than 19 years that global shipping firms have already retired.

This shift signals a new strategy for moving Russian energy under mounting Western restrictions. The creation of a shadow fleet could serve as Russia's answer to the economic challenges posed by the restrictions.