politics
Chinese LNG Carrier Linked to Russian Arctic Gas Trade Circles Off Norway for a Month
An LNG carrier tied to Russia’s Arctic gas trade has spent nearly a month circling off the central Norwegian coast near Trondheim with no announced destination, raising questions about shifting logistics for Russian gas shipments as European sanctions tighten.
Published
Shipping data shows the conventional LNG carrier Wen Cheng has been loitering west-northwest of Trondheim since January 23, apparently awaiting instructions or a new cargo. Before that, the vessel spent roughly two and a half months circling in the Barents Sea near Murmansk, including several close passes near Vardø.
The vessel has not been sanctioned and operates with Western protection and indemnity insurance, but some shipping databases flag it as a potential sanctions risk due to its role in handling Russian LNG cargoes.
Regular guest in the Russian Arctic
Wen Cheng was built in 2023 at a Chinese shipyard and is operated by Chinese shipping company, CSSC Hong Kong Shipping. It is one of a fleet of conventional LNG carriers used for ship-to-ship (STS) transfers linked to Russia’s Yamal LNG project in the Arctic, majority-owned by Russian gas producer Novatek.
Shipping records indicate the vessel has picked up LNG at Kildin anchorage near Murmansk on at least three occasions since February 2024, a hub where LNG is transferred from ice-class tankers operating out of Yamal.
The ship has also called three times at the Belgian port of Zeebrugge and made at least two stops in Spain, making it an integral part of Novatek’s logistics chain moving Arctic gas to global markets.
Wen Cheng last visited Zeebrugge days before the European Union’s transshipment ban on Russian LNG took effect in March 2025 and has not returned since. Zeebrugge hosts a large storage facility run by Belgian gas infrastructure company Fluxys for Novatek.
Analysts say that absence underscores how logistics chains are shifting ahead of a broader EU import ban on Russian LNG due to take effect in roughly 10 months and how operators are repositioning vessels as regulatory risks rise.
Sudden turnaround raises questions
On its latest voyage, Wen Cheng made a sharp U-turn near the Danish straits at the tip of Denmark before heading north to its holding position off Trondheim. A similar diversion occurred recently when shadow-fleet tanker Tavian headed north after authorities in Germany denied it access to national waters.
In Wen Cheng’s case, the reason for the turnaround remains unclear. It may be waiting for charter instructions or clarity on compliance risks tied to upcoming sanctions on Russian LNG imports.
Norway’s strategic waters
The vessel’s movements highlight how Norway’s long coastline, from above the Arctic Circle to the North Sea, has become increasingly central to the transport of Russian oil and gas. Some shipments remain unsanctioned, but a growing number are subject to international restrictions, forcing ships to reroute or wait offshore.
Over the past two years, Wen Cheng has transited the Norwegian coast at least four times, according to shipping records. Its month-long circling off Trondheim, along with earlier loitering in the Barents Sea, underscores how Norway’s waters sit along Russia’s export maritime highways.
While the ship remains legally compliant as a modern LNG carrier, analysts say the uncertain regulatory environment may already be affecting charter decisions. With more EU measures looming, including a maritime services ban, they expect further changes to shipping routes and logistics networks for Russian LNG.
For now, Wen Cheng continues to circle off Norway’s coast, its next destination unknown.
