- Three Dynagas-managed LNG carriers were mistakenly included in the UK’s latest sanctions list targeting Russia.
- The vessels are owned by China Development Bank Financial Leasing and have been chartered to Yamal Trade for non-sanctioned operations.
- Dynagas has sought clarification from UK authorities, calling the inclusion a “clear error.”
- The sanctions mainly target Russian-owned vessels and entities linked to the Arctic LNG 2 project.
Three Dynagas-managed LNG carriers have been mistakenly included in the UK’s latest round of sanctions against Russia, according to Greek shipowner George Prokopiou. The vessels, owned by China Development Bank Financial Leasing and long engaged in the Yamal gas project, were listed despite not being Russian-owned or operated by a shadow fleet. The company has already begun discussions with UK authorities to clarify the situation, as reported by Lloyd’s List Intelligence.
Sanctions Impact and Industry Response
The new UK sanctions, aimed primarily at curbing Russia’s energy revenue, targeted 51 vessels and several major energy entities including Rosneft and Lukoil. Among the sanctioned ships were 44 tankers and seven LNG carriers — four of which are Russian-owned. The Dynagas-managed LNG carriers, however, drew attention as they are neither Russian-owned nor associated with the shadow fleet, raising questions about the criteria used for inclusion. The affected vessels have been operating on 15-year charters to Yamal Trade in Singapore, serving Russia’s Yamal gas exports — a project that itself remains unsanctioned. Prokopiou emphasized that the inclusion was likely a clerical mistake, expressing confidence that it would be resolved promptly.
Yamal Operations and Broader LNG Context
Despite recent geopolitical tensions, Yamal’s LNG exports continue to reach European markets, supported by an established fleet of ice-class LNG carriers. Dynagas, a well-regarded name in the LNG shipping sector, has maintained its commitment to compliant operations while expanding its fleet to support U.S. LNG exports in recent years. The company’s vessels, including the three now under scrutiny, have been routinely trading between Sabetta and other northern ports as part of Yamal’s logistics chain. With Arctic LNG 2 — another Novatek-led project on the opposite side of the Gulf of Ob — already heavily sanctioned, industry observers view this development as part of a broader tightening of Western restrictions on Russian-linked LNG operations.
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Source: Lloyd’s List Intelligence
