Russia Keeps Sanctioned Arctic LNG Exports Alive With Icebreaker

Russia has used a single icebreaker ship to continue exporting liquefied natural gas from a US-sanctioned project in the Arctic through the winter, highlighting Moscow’s need for more vessels that can traverse icy waters.

The Christophe De Margerie docked at the blacklisted Arctic LNG 2 export plant on Monday, and is poised to export its third shipment since Dec. 20, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. The tanker is the only operating ship identified in the Russian shadow LNG fleet that’s capable of navigating frozen areas all year round.

The Christophe De Margerie ice-class tanker has been ferrying fuel between Arctic LNG 2 and the Saam floating storage unit, ship data shows.

The ice around the Arctic LNG 2 facility becomes ...