YA QING HAI YANG

The vessel, together with two other designated vessels – Na Feng Zhi Xing (IMO 9934498) and Hunter Star (IMO 9830769) – was involved in the October 2024 delivery from China to the russian port of Utrenny of large-scale power generation modules for the designated Arctic LNG 2 project. The power plant is a key component for the commissioning of the second train of the Arctic LNG 2 liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. It is configured to include 24 Harbin Guanghan CGT30 turbines with a total generation capacity of approximately 650 MW.
Arctic LNG 2 is the second large-scale LNG project operated by the designated russian company PJSC Novatek (ПАО "Новатэк") – the project’s majority shareholder – and is located on the Gydan Peninsula. The project was sanctioned by the United States in November 2023 and by the United Kingdom in February 2024.
The vessel (IMO 1021570) departed from the Chinese port of Zhangjiagang on 24 September and arrived at the port of Utrenny on 30 October 2024. During the delivery, the Chinese vessels travelled over 1,500 nautical miles through partially ice-covered seas without having an ice-class designation. Nonetheless, the russian Main Directorate of the Northern Sea Route issued a permit to Ocean 28 – a non-ice-class vessel – to navigate the waters of the Northern Sea Route along the route "Eastern boundary of the Northern Sea Route – Sabetta port – Western boundary of the Northern Sea Route", valid from 1 October to 15 November 2024. The permit stated that the vessel required icebreaker escort "in ice-free waters and light ice conditions". According to the Northern Sea Route Administration, only one nuclear-powered icebreaker was operating in the eastern sector of the route throughout October.
The vessel (IMO 1021570) is one of numerous non-ice-class ships that were authorized by russia to operate in the remote Arctic waters during autumn 2024. The presence of such vessels in ice-covered Arctic seas without proper classification demonstrates that russia prioritizes the continuity of its oil and gas exports over maritime safety in the Arctic.
The delivery of the power station to the designated Arctic LNG 2 project ahead of winter further indicates the intent of the designated russian company PJSC Novatek (ПАО "Новатэк") to launch an LNG production train with a capacity of 6.6 million tons per year at the site in 2025.
On 10 January 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On 20 May 2025, the European Union imposed sanctions on the vessel for facilitating or supporting actions or policies aimed at the exploitation, development, or expansion of the russian energy sector, including its energy infrastructure; these sanctions took effect on 21 May 2025.
On 3 June 2025, the sanctions imposed by Switzerland on the vessel entered into force.