A sanctioned Russian LNG tanker, the Pioneer, appears to be transferring its cargo to another ship in the Mediterranean, likely to bypass US sanctions.
As Bloomberg reports, the Pioneer, sanctioned by the US , is anchored near Egypt’s Port Said and is transferring its load ship-to-ship (STS) to the New Energy, a vessel not under any restrictions. According to reports, the cargo originates from Russia’s Arctic LNG 2, a gas export plant also under US sanctions.
This transfer highlights Moscow’s strategy to develop a “shadow fleet” of LNG tankers to continue its energy exports despite international sanctions. The New Energy, managed by Plio Energy Cargo Shipping since June, has opaque ownership and could be part of this shadow fleet, Bloomberg notes.
After the transfer, it may head to Asia, where buyers for the sanctioned gas might be found. Furthemore, Bloomberg reports that another vessel, Everest Energy, also sanctioned by the US, is reportedly transporting a shipment from the same Russian facility, having previously faked its location to avoid detection.
