Two U.S.-sanctioned heavy-lift vessels have delivered key topside modules for the Arctic LNG 2 project to Novatek’s Belokamenka construction yard near Murmansk after a voyage of nearly two and a half months from eastern China.
Satellite imagery obtained by Synmax from Planet Labs shows Glory Ocean and Bright Ocean berthed at the facility, where liquefied natural gas process modules are assembled on gravity-based structures before being transported to the project site on the Gydan Peninsula.
Glory Ocean arrived with the TMR-001 pipe rack module and was positioned alongside the unfinished GBS3 structure for Arctic LNG 2’s third production train. The module was being unloaded next to the gravity-based structure rather than near Belokamenka’s enclosed assembly hall.
TMR-001 is intended to be installed in the centre of the gravity-based structure during the initial stage of topside assembly.
Bright Ocean, carrying the TMR-002 pipe rack module, was berthed closer to the assembly hall. TMR-002 is designed to follow TMR-001 in the installation sequence.
The vessels’ positions suggest that Novatek may be preparing to place the modules on GBS3. However, their arrival does not confirm that construction of Train 3 has fully restarted.
Work on the third production train largely stopped in July 2024 after Western sanctions disrupted equipment deliveries and financing. Two other pipe rack modules, TMR-003 and TMR-004, remain at the former Wison Offshore fabrication yard in Zhoushan, China.
The Zhoushan facility is now operating under new ownership after becoming involved in sanctions related to Arctic LNG 2.
Glory Ocean, formerly named Nan Feng Zhi Xing, and Bright Ocean, previously known as Hunter Star, had participated in earlier module deliveries for Arctic LNG 2 before the United States sanctioned both vessels in 2024.
Despite the restrictions, the ships completed the voyage from China to Russia with equipment required for the LNG development.
Separate vessel movements have also been recorded involving Audax, an ice-class heavy-lift carrier built to transport oversized LNG modules into Arctic waters for the Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG 2 projects.
Audax recently left the anchorage off Lianyungang, where it had remained since June 2024. Automatic Identification System data showed that the vessel entered Lianyungang Gangguanhe Port on 10 July and remained there.
The United States continues to sanction Audax. The European Union removed sanctions on Audax and its sister vessel Pugnax in October 2025 after their operator reportedly assured European officials that the ships would no longer carry equipment supporting Russia’s LNG sector.
The two ice-capable heavy-lift vessels previously transported large prefabricated modules from Chinese fabrication yards for the Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG 2 projects.
Arctic LNG 2 has faced delays since U.S. sanctions imposed in late 2023 disrupted financing, technology supplies and shipping. The first production train was largely completed before the restrictions tightened, while Train 2 required redesign and work stopped on Train 3 as equipment remained in China.
The latest deliveries mark renewed logistics activity at Belokamenka. It remains unclear whether the modules will support sustained construction of Train 3 or be held at the Russian facility.
