Three 20-year-old liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers were recently sold to a newly formed company in Türkiye, with two subsequently reflagged to Sierra Leone, a ship registry favored by Russia’s dark fleet.

Two of the vessels are currently sailing around the Cape of Good Hope in ballast and are expected to bunker at Port Elizabeth or Cape Town based on current signals. The third is anchored off Galle, Sri Lanka, a well-known hub for crew changes and resupply.

Signals of Strategic Expansion

These purchases point to Russian preparations to deploy a dark fleet of LNG carriers operating outside Western jurisdiction, as European and U.K. sanctions expand beyond oil into the gas sector.

In November, the U.K. government announced a maritime services ban on Russian LNG shipped to third countries. This effectively bars most LNG carriers from participating in these trades, given their reliance on marine insurers linked to Lloyd’s of London.

In February, the U.K. also sanctioned three Greek-owned LNG carriers chartered to the marketing and trading arm of the non-sanctioned Yamal Arctic gas project, adding further ambiguity and operational risk for Western-affiliated vessels still engaged in these routes.

Beginning in April, Russian LNG shipments to Europe purchased on the spot market are banned, with volumes under long-term contracts set to be phased out by year-end.

Sierra Leone Emerges as…