UK sanctions five ships, two firms tied to Russian LNG sector

The UK government has sanctioned five vessels and two entities involved in the Russian Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) sector.

This marks the first use of new powers allowing the UK to target specific LNG vessels directly, Caliber.Az reports per the UK Government's official website.

The move is part of an ongoing coordinated effort with international allies to clamp down on Russia’s key sources of income, crucial for funding the war in Ukraine. The sanctions specifically target ships linked to Russia’s flagship Arctic LNG 2 project, which plays a vital role in the country’s energy strategy.

LNG is a critical contributor to Russian revenue streams, with the country seeking to expand its global market share from 8% to 20%. Earlier this year, the UK, alongside the US and the EU, imposed sanctions on Arctic LNG 2, forcing the project to reduce production. Today’s measures build on this by focusing on the vessels and entities involved in the transportation of Russian LNG.

The sanctioned vessels include:

• PIONEER (IMO 9256602)
• ASYA ENERGY (IMO 9216298)
• NOVA ENERGY (IMO 9324277)
• NORTH SKY (IMO 9953523)
• SCF LA PEROUSE (IMO 9849887)

Additionally, two entities have been sanctioned:

• OCEAN SPEEDSTAR SOLUTIONS OPC, the operator and manager of PIONEER and ASYA ENERGY
• WHITE FOX SHIP MANAGEMENT, the operator and manager of NORTH SKY

These sanctions prevent the vessels from entering UK ports, and they may be detained or denied permission to operate under the UK Ship Register.

Today's action brings the total number of vessels and entities sanctioned by the UK in the Russian LNG sector to 15, as the UK government reiterates its commitment to curtailing the flow of revenue that finances Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.