Russian LNG Carrier Enters Mediterranean Amid Heightened Tensions

An LNG carrier transporting Russian gas has made its way into the Mediterranean Sea for the first time since Moscow redirected shipments following a significant incident involving the tanker *Arctic Metagaz*. The *LNG Merak* passed through the Strait of Gibraltar on March 14 and is currently navigating northeast along the Spanish coastline, according to ship-tracking data. This development comes in the wake of an explosion that destroyed the *Arctic Metagaz* approximately 170 nautical miles southeast of Malta, which Russian officials suspect was caused by a Ukrainian drone attack. Ukraine has not issued any official comment regarding the incident.

In response to the explosion, Russia had begun rerouting its LNG carriers away from the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal to mitigate the perceived threat from Ukrainian maritime drones. This precautionary measure led to several vessels altering their courses, with at least five tankers associated with Russia’s emerging “shadow fleet” redirected towards the Cape of Good Hope. Some vessels even made mid-voyage U-turns, while another LNG tanker has been waiting off Port Said at the northern entrance to the Suez Canal instead of proceeding into the Mediterranean.

Significance of the *LNG Merak*’s Voyage

The arrival of the *LNG Merak* suggests that Russia may be easing its precautionary measures, although this vessel is notably different from those previously diverted. Unlike the *Arctic Metagaz*, which was sanctioned by the United States and the European Union and considered part of Russia’s opaque LNG fleet, the *LNG Merak* operates under standard commercial arrangements. The ship is flagged in Hong Kong and managed by Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), the largest operator of LNG carriers globally. Neither the vessel nor its operator is subject to U.S. or EU sanctions, although MOL faced temporary restrictions on three other LNG carriers in 2025.

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The *LNG Merak* is transporting cargo from the established Yamal LNG project in the Russian Arctic, rather than from the heavily sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 development. Ship-tracking data indicates that the *LNG Merak* received its cargo on March 6 through a ship-to-ship transfer with the ice-class tanker *Vladimir Vize* near the Kildin anchorage off Murmansk. This transfer occurred just three days after the explosion involving the *Arctic Metagaz*. The Kildin anchorage has become a key location for transferring LNG from specialized Arc7 tankers to conventional carriers, especially since a ban on transshipments across EU ports was implemented last year.

While the destination of the *LNG Merak* remains unclear, Spain is considered a likely port of discharge. Spain has continued to be one of Europe’s largest purchasers of Russian LNG, despite broader EU efforts to reduce energy dependence on Moscow. In 2025, Spain received 38 cargoes of Russian LNG, totaling approximately 2.8 million tonnes, a decrease from 54 shipments the previous year.

The incident involving the *Arctic Metagaz* underscores the increasing risks faced by vessels linked to Russian energy exports as the conflict in Ukraine extends into maritime trade routes. Whether the passage of the *LNG Merak* signifies a broader return of Russian LNG shipments to the Mediterranean remains uncertain.