Russia Expands Dark Fleet Amid Push for LNG Exports

Russia has significantly expanded its fleet of liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers, despite Western restrictions. According to Bloomberg's analysis of ship-tracking data, at least 20 ships have served the Arctic LNG 2 facility and related infrastructure since September last year.

These vessels are part of Russia's 'dark fleet,' characterized by opaque ownership structures, which makes it difficult to track their involvement in global trade. The latest addition is a Russian-built advanced ice-class vessel designed to traverse icy waters year-round.

The move comes as Russia pushes to boost lucrative LNG exports despite US sanctions. The Arctic LNG 2 facility has seen a significant increase in activity, with the new ship being tracked by Bloomberg Terminal picking up a shipment over the weekend.