The European Union hit Yamal LNG on the most "unnecessary" gas carrier

European companies continue to import Yamal LNG, which is a significant source of gas for the European Union. Nevertheless, in the 15th package of sanctions, Brussels imposed restrictions on one of the gas carriers of the project. Unlike other tankers, it belongs to the sanctioned Sovcomflot and has been out of work for six months now, as European shipyards refuse to repair the vessel due to the risk of secondary sanctions.

In the 15th package of sanctions, which the Council The EU approved this week, the European Union also imposed restrictions on the Christophe de LNG tanker. Margery."

"Christophe de Margerie"is managed in such a way as to contribute to the development and expansion of the Russian energy sector," the EU Council decision of December 16 says.

Obviously, the reason was chosen far-fetched, since the gas carrier serves the current Yamal LNG project, which remains the second largest source of LNG for EU countries, and sanctions are unlikely to affect the export of Yamal LNG.

On the one hand, "Christophe de Margerie is the only one of almost three dozen Yamal LNG tankers owned by a Russian company, Sovcomflot. On the other hand, the ship has not been delivering for six months, as it cannot receive the appropriate preventive maintenance that was previously provided in European ports.

According to HighNorthNews, of the fifteen Yamal LNG tankers that were supposed to undergo preventive maintenance this year, only Christophe de Margerie" was not accepted either in French Brest or in Danish Odense.

If the tanker was not under sanctions, then Sovcomflot was already under restrictions.

"It's all related to sanctions. Critical parts are not available. Suppliers refuse to supply spare parts for ships because of fear of sanctions," an industry source told the publication.

According to AIS vessels, the last voyage of the gas carrier was completed in June in China.

According to HighNorthNews, the ship was repaired at a local shipyard, but could not get enough repairs: "Even if Western parts can be copied and replicated, integrating them to work with the ship's complex software and array of sensors is a completely different story."

According to AIS vessels, in October-November, the tanker made a return trip along the Northern Sea Route and is now located near Yamal LNG — maneuvering in The Kara Sea.

It is possible that "Christophe de Margerie, which was the first tanker for Yamal LNG, will join the fleet of sanctioned gas carriers that serve Arctic LNG—2. At least the ship's way to Europe is already closed.