Two tankers, Glory Ocean and Bright Ocean, have moved through Norwegian waters after completing a long detour around Africa to avoid the Suez Canal, where EU sanctions would have halted their progress. Both vessels are listed in the Russian maritime register but fly the flag of Mali, a practice described as a shadow‑fleet tactic used to evade detection by EU authorities.

Cargo and destination

The ships are laden with large steel modules intended for Novatek’s Arctic LNG expansion, either for the Arctic LNG 2 scheme or for the Murmansk LNG terminal at Belokamenka in Kola Bay. The cargo consists of infrastructure components rather than weapons, but once installed the modules will enable Russia to increase LNG exports from the Arctic.

Arctic LNG 2 relies on a small fleet of specialised Arc7 ice‑class carriers, while the Murmansk project will use an ice‑free port with new pipelines, allowing larger gas shipments without the limits imposed by ice‑class vessels.

Sanctions loophole

EU legislation bans the transport of sanctioned goods to Russia, but the current rules do not automatically prevent sanctioned ships from entering EU territorial waters. Because of this legal gap, the tankers have travelled from Irish, British and Danish waters into the North Sea and now Norwegian jurisdiction without being stopped.

Concealing the true ownership of the vessels allows them to bypass routine checks that depend on flag‑state information, a tactic that has been highlighted by EU officials as undermining the credibility of the sanctions regime.

EU response

The European Union is finalising its 21st sanctions package, which aims to add more vessels to the sanctions list, tighten limits on maritime services that support Russian fossil‑fuel exports, and close loopholes used by shadow‑fleet operations. The draft proposal includes a blanket prohibition on any ship providing logistical support to Russian LNG projects and harsher penalties for firms that help move prohibited cargoes. It also seeks closer coordination with the United Kingdom, Norway and the United States.

A senior EU official told UnionPress that sanctions are only as strong as their enforcement, and that unchallenged ships erode the regime’s credibility. The European Transport Workers’ Federation has warned that a handful of companies profit while the Kremlin funds attacks on Ukrainian civilians, and that a robust sanctions regime protects European security and workers’ livelihoods.

Norwegian stance and potential impact

Norway has expressed willingness to cooperate with EU enforcement. A source at the Norwegian maritime authority indicated that any breach of EU sanctions would be dealt with swiftly in line with international law.

If the vessels are allowed to dock, the modules are expected to be used at the Murmansk LNG terminal, increasing Russia’s capacity to ship gas to Asian markets via the Arctic route. Detaining the ships would demonstrate Europe’s resolve against policy loopholes and show that coordinated diplomatic, legal and enforcement actions can disrupt Russia’s energy strategy.

Analysts note that each new terminal, pipeline or processing plant expands Russia’s ability to earn hard currency, which funds its war in Ukraine. Data from the watchdog Urgewald indicate that in the first four months of 2026, EU member states imported 91 cargoes from Russia’s Yamal LNG project, worth about €3.88 billion. Critics claim that sanctions have been applied unevenly, with some member states hesitant to fully enforce them because of economic concerns.

Continued Russian gas exports keep European energy prices volatile and hinder the bloc’s climate objectives, underscoring the importance of closing the current sanctions loophole.