Marine vessels

The non-ice-class vessel is involved in the transportation of russian LNG, including from facilities located in the Arctic zone, in particular, with the AIS signal switched off and frequent course deviations. The vessel has a permit issued by the State Budgetary Institution ‘Main Directorate of the Northern Sea Route’, which is founded by the russian federation, to sail along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) along the following route: western border of the NSR - Kara Sea - Gulf of Ob - port of Sabetta - western border of the NSR. The vessel is affiliated through related companies, in particular the sanctioned Sun Ship Management and Gas Carriers SCF MGMT FZCO, with the sanctioned Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia, a key company for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian oil, oil products, and liquefied natural gas amid sanctions restrictions on russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The services provided by Sovcomflot are a significant source of income for the russian federation, as more than 70% of russia's revenues come from energy sales, which allows it to finance its war against Ukraine. The main charterers of Sovcomflot vessels are the largest oil and gas companies and traders in russia. Sovcomflot is involved in servicing major oil and gas projects in russia: ‘Sakhalin-1‘, ‘Sakhalin-2‘, ‘Varandey’, ‘Prirazlomnoye’, ‘Novy Port’, ‘Yamal LNG’ and others. Prior to russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the company's fleet consisted of about 145 vessels. After the sanctions were imposed, Sovcomflot transferred dozens of vessels, including LNG tankers, to the ownership of companies it had set up in foreign jurisdictions in order to circumvent them, starting the practice of constantly ‘juggling’ (transferring) vessels to related companies. The tankers ‘re-registered’ by PJSC Sovcomflot to related companies, according to expert estimates, are part of the so-called ‘shadow fleet’ of the russian federation to continue selling russian oil, oil products and liquefied gas under sanctions. On 26 September 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on 5 LNG tankers, including the ‘SCF La Perouse’ (current name: ‘La Perouse’), involved in the russian LNG sector.

In August 2024, the first shipments/reloadings of STS LNG from the sanctioned Arctic LNG-2 facility were recorded by vessels that were subsequently sanctioned by partners. At the same time, there is a possibility that earlier than in August 2024, the LNG carrier 'Christophe De Margerie' shipped the first batch of LNG from 'Arctic LNG-2' to Europe, the shipment operation was carried out in the period of June 06-11, 2024, but it was not a full batch, but a blend of LNG from 'Yamal LNG'. In the period from June 08-09, June 09-10, 2024, the vessel carried out the so-called “dark” activity near the port of Sabetta in the Gulf of Ob. Arctic LNG-2 is the second large-capacity project after Yamal LNG of Novatek's sanctioned project for natural gas extraction and liquefied natural gas production on the Gydan Peninsula. In November 2023 and February 2024, USA and the United Kingdom respectively imposed sanctions on the russian Arctic LNG-2 project, which is of strategic importance for the government of the russian federation. The LNG carrier 'Christophe de Margerie' is linked to Gas Carriers SCF MGMT FZCO (UAE), which is affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC 'Sovcomflot', the largest state-owned shipping company in russia, a key company for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian oil, oil products, liquefied gas against the background of sanctions restrictions on russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The services provided by Sovcomflot are a significant source of income for russia, as more than 70% of russia's revenues come from energy sales, which allows it to finance its war against Ukraine. The main charterers of Sovcomflot vessels are the largest oil and gas companies and traders in russia. Sovcomflot is involved in servicing major oil and gas projects in russia: Sakhalin-1, Sakhalin-2, Varandey, Prirazlomnoye, Novy Port, Yamal LNG, etc. Prior to russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the company's fleet consisted of about 145 vessels. After the sanctions were imposed, Sovcomflot transferred dozens of vessels to the ownership of companies it had set up, including in foreign jurisdictions, in order to circumvent them, and began the practice of constantly 'juggling' (transferring) vessels to related companies. According to expert estimates, the tankers transferred by Sovcomflot to related companies are part of the so-called “shadow fleet” of the russian federation to continue selling russian oil, oil products, and liquefied gas under sanctions.

It is the only floating regasification vessel in russia that can be used for LNG transportation. The vessel was built in 2018, designed to operate in low temperatures (down to -30°C) and equipped with anti-icing equipment. The Arc4 ice class allows it to operate in average annual ice thicknesses of up to 0.9 m. The vessel is affiliated with the russian company Gazprom Fleet LLC (TIN 7740000037, sanctioned by USA and Ukraine), a 100% subsidiary of PJSC Gazprom specializing in the implementation of a unified technical policy in the development of gas and oil fields on the continental shelf of the russian federation. On October 17, 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel 'MARSHAL VASILEVSKIY'.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of russian LNG to third countries, including with the AIS system disabled. On September 4, 2024, the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Main Directorate of the Northern Sea Route" issued a permit for the Ice2 ice-class vessel 'VELIKIY NOVGOROD' to sail in the waters of the Northern Sea Route on the route "Western/Eastern border of the Northern Sea Route - Port of Sabetta - Eastern/Western border of the Northern Sea Route" based on the application of Alexandria Seaways Ltd dated September 4, 2024. On October 17, 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker 'VELIKIY NOVGOROD'.

It is involved in the supply of sanctioned goods to russia. In particular, on 21 May 2023, a vessel loaded with special and automotive equipment (trucks, tankers and cargo trailers) crossed the Bosphorus Strait and entered the Black Sea. The vessel is sailing from 21 to 23 May 2023 on the route Haydarpaşa Port (Istanbul) to Novorossiysk Port (russia). During this voyage, the vessel once again switched off the AIS satellite surveillance system to conceal its activities. Over the past 5 years, the vessel has frequently changed the names and flags of its home countries to conceal its activities in the Black Sea and to enter the closed ports of the TOT of Crimea. The vessel is a violator of the so-called ‘Crimean sanctions’, in violation of the state borders of Ukraine, it made frequent calls to the ports of Sevastopol, Yevpatoriya, Feodosiya.