Image for representation purposes only A liquefied natural gas tanker that recently switched to a Russian flag appears to be loading cargo linked to a US-sanctioned energy project. According to ship-tracking data compiled by Kpler and reported by Bloomberg, the LNG tanker Merkuriy docked alongside the Saam floating storage unit near Murmansk in western Russia. The storage unit is used to hold LNG produced by the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project. Russia is trying to maintain and increase LNG exports despite heavy restrictions imposed by the United States and Europe on its energy sector. Sanctions are restrictions imposed by countries or governments to pressure another nation, company, or organisation by limiting trade, financial transactions, shipping activities, or access to international markets. Western sanctions have significantly affected production and export activity at Arctic LNG 2, one of Russia’s newest LNG developments. Shipping data showed that the Merkuriy recently switched to a Russian flag and changed ownership to Celtic Maritime & Trading SA, a company with little visibility within the global shipping industry. The vessel had previously been managed by Oman Ship Management Co. Industry tracking data indicated that the tanker displays several characteristics commonly associated with so-called dark fleet or shadow fleet operations. The vessel is older than most LNG carriers currently operating in mainstream global trades and was transferred through opaque ownership arrangements before arriving near the Arctic export facilities. Three additional former Omani LNG tankers that also switched to Russian flags are either heading towards the Arctic region or have already arrived there, according to ship-tracking data. The vessels could potentially be used to transport LNG linked to sanctioned Russian projects. Russia is trying to increase the number of vessels moving sanctioned LNG cargoes at a time when global gas supplies are tight and prices are rising.