Norway has detained the Chinese-owned heavy-lift vessel YA QING HAI YANG after maritime inspectors found that the ship lacked valid flag-state registration and required certificates.
The Norwegian Maritime Authority inspected the vessel on 13 October 2026 after it sought shelter from adverse weather in Andfjorden, off the Vesterålen Islands in northern Norway.
Dag Inge Aarhus, the authority’s communications director, told High North News that the ship must establish valid registration with a flag state and obtain the necessary certificates before inspectors can complete their assessment and consider its release.
The vessel has a documented history of transporting equipment to Russia’s sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project. However, Norwegian authorities based the detention on registration and certification deficiencies, not the ship’s sanctions status.
According to U.S. Treasury sanctions records, the vessel was listed on 10 January 2025 under its former name, OCEAN 28, with YA QING HAI YANG recorded as an alternative name. The vessel, identified by IMO number 1021570, was linked to Hongkong Yaqing Shipping Co Limited, which was also designated.
The European Union subsequently added OCEAN 28 to its vessel sanctions list, with restrictions applying from 21 May 2025. The listing relates to activities supporting the development or expansion of Russia’s energy sector and associated infrastructure.
In October 2024, the ship transported large power-generation modules from China to the Utrenny terminal serving Novatek‘s Arctic LNG 2 project on Russia’s Gydan Peninsula. The equipment was manufactured by Wison New Energies.
A second Chinese-owned heavy-lift vessel, JIAN YANG CHENG HE, was inspected in Andfjorden on 21 October. Inspectors identified five deficiencies but did not detain the ship. The Norwegian Maritime Authority said it had not established a link between the second vessel and sanctioned Russian energy projects.
Both ships had travelled from China through the Northern Sea Route before arriving in northern Norwegian waters.
YA QING HAI YANG remained detained as of 3 November. Its release depends on resolving the registration and certification deficiencies and completing the Norwegian authorities’ inspection.
