Russia's Shadow LNG Fleet Doubles to 25 Ships Ahead of EU Ban

Russia is aggressively expanding its shadow fleet of natural gas-carrying vessels in preparation for an impending European Union ban on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. The move mirrors the tactics Moscow employed in the global crude oil market, where it amassed a 'dark fleet' numbering over 1,000 oil tankers to bypass G7 price caps and Western embargoes.

According to maritime intelligence data compiled by Windward, Russia has acquired at least eight second-hand LNG tankers over the past six months. This brings its total gas-carrying shadow fleet to 25 ships, including two newly commissioned vessels constructed domestically at Russia's Zvezda shipyard.

The expansion into LNG transport represents a more complex logistical challenge due to the highly specialised and technically sophisticated nature of these vessels. However, the fact that Russia is managing to procure and operate these assets in the secondary market highlights the limitations of current sanction enforcement mechanisms.