Norway Detains Vessel That Serviced Sanctioned Russian Arctic LNG 2 Project

Norwegian authorities have detained two cargo vessels, at least one of which is involved in servicing the sanctioned Russian Arctic LNG 2 project.

This is reported in an article by The Insider, citing data from the Norwegian Coast Guard and vessel-tracking services, as well as established in an analysis by Militarnyi.

The vessels were detained in international waters off the Norwegian coast, where both sought shelter from adverse weather.

One of the detained vessels is Ya Qing Hai Yang (IMO: 1021570), designed to transport oversized and heavy cargo. Norwegian authorities seized it on October 14.

The vessel is under international sanctions for its involvement in the Arctic LNG 2 project, operated by Russian company Novatek on the Gyda Peninsula. In October 2024, it transported equipment and modules for a power plant from China to Russia’s Utrenny port.

According to Militarnyi’s analysis based on MarineTraffic data, Ya Qing Hai Yang departed from the Chinese port of Zhuhai on August 2 at 19:28 (UTC+8) and is currently anchored near the Norwegian island of Andøya.

In addition to its sanctioned status, the vessel drew attention for sailing under the flag of Guatemala. Because the country does not maintain a publicly accessible ship register, using its flag is classified as “false” and considered a means of concealment.

Alongside Ya Qing Hai Yang, the coast guard stopped another cargo vessel, Jian Yang Cheng He (IMO: 9813137), sailing under the Chinese flag. The ship is not under sanctions, and no links to Russian energy projects have been established so far.

The Starboard Maritime Intelligence analytics platform recorded that both vessels were traveling from Hong Kong along the Northern Sea Route, making several stops in the Far East.

According to The Barents Observer, the vessels had been near the Norwegian-Russian border since early October, waiting for weather conditions to improve.

Inspectors searched the vessels, but no claims or concerns have been made public so far.

On October 12, the French Navy intercepted the Russian oil tanker DF Peak in the Indian Ocean.