UK and Japan target Sovcomflot-linked LNG carriers and oil tankers

Britain and Japan have expanded sanctions against ships linked to Sovcomflot, targeting different parts of Russia’s energy export fleet. The UK measures cover LNG carriers, including a ship yet to enter commercial service, while Japan’s package focuses mainly on oil tankers, according to a Kpler report published by Hellenic Shipping News.

The UK added 31 entries to its Russia sanctions list on 1 October, including eight vessels and Novatek Gas and Power Asia, Novatek’s Singapore-based chartering subsidiary. The ships were designated for carrying, or being likely to carry, Russian LNG to third countries. They include the new Russian-built Arc7 ice-class carriers Aleksey Kosygin, Konstantin Posiet and Pyotr Stolypin, alongside older conventional LNG vessels.

The measures show authorities acting before some ships establish an export record. Kpler classified Pyotr Stolypin as launched but not in service, with no commercial cargo recorded through 5 October. Konstantin Posiet had made no direct international export in the data, while Aleksey Kosygin had completed one. The latter had also transferred cargoes domestically from Arctic LNG 2 to the Saam floating storage unit at Murmansk since January.

Kpler data cited in the report put Arctic LNG 2 exports at approximately 0.95 million tonnes across 14 cargoes between 17 July and 5 October 2026, compared with 0.54 million tonnes during all of 2025. All cargoes with identified destinations went to China, including ten to PipeChina’s Beihai terminal. Only two shipments used Arc7 carriers, although the report said the newer ice-class fleet would become particularly important for accessing the terminal in heavy winter ice without icebreaker assistance.

Japan announced its measures a day after Britain, listing 35 vessels and freezing assets of 33 Russian entities and nine individuals. Its vessel package comprises 27 crude tankers, four product or chemical tankers and four general cargo or ro-ro ships. Kpler identified Sovcomflot as the beneficial owner of five listed tankers: Carma, Lavender, Nomad, Okeansky Prospect and Trust.

Sovcomflot has been under UK sanctions since March 2022. The latest vessel-level measures precede Britain’s ban on maritime and insurance services for Russian LNG on 1 January 2027, when the EU’s phase-out of Russian LNG under long-term contracts also takes effect. Britain has extended targeted, temporary licences covering LNG supplies for Japan and South Korea, the report said.