Asya Vitality’s AIS monitor locations it within the Norwegian Sea, on the identical time satellite tv for pc imagery exhibits it on the ALNG2 plant
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine the West has imposed sanctions on the sale of Russian oil. In an try and keep away from these sanctions Russia has been working a shadow fleet of covert oil tankers. The West has been engaged on strengthening worldwide cooperation to attempt to restrict using these covert oil tankers.
SynMax claims that Russia can also be creating a ‘shadow’ fleet of Liquefied Pure Gasoline (LNG) tankers. In The Inception of Russia’s LNG Ghost Fleet SynMax maps out how quite a few LNG tankers have been utilizing AIS spoofing ways with a view to conceal their visits to Russia’s Arctic-2 LNG Export Plant. (ALNG2)
Concurrently their spoofed AIS tracks present them supposedly within the Norwegian Sea quite a few LNG tankers have been noticed on satellite tv for pc imagery by SynMax truly on the ALNG2 plant 800 miles away. These ships are a part of a darkish fleet assembled by Russia’s Novatek to keep away from sanctions imposed on transporting cargoes from ALNG2.
Alongside the AIS spoofing exercise mapped by SynMax these ships additionally present a typical sample of frequent modifications in possession, vessel names and nation registrations. All frequent ways utilized by tankers attempting to keep away from sanctions on the sale of Russian oil and LNG. At the very least one ship has additionally been tracked taking the perilous sea route south via the Crimson Sea. SynMax speculates that “Russia might have negotiated a cope with Yemen’s Houthis … permitting for “protected passage” via the Bab el Mandeb Strait”.
