The Federal Security Service of Russia has succeeded in removing foreign captains from the "Yamal LNG" fleet, replacing them with Russian specialists, as reported by High North News.
According to an investigation, after the start of the war in Ukraine, Western sailors working on Arc7-class vessels were subjected to interrogations and intimidation by Russian intelligence services. As a result, most of them were forced to leave the ships, allowing Russian authorities to establish full control over the fleet and facilitate illegal deliveries of liquefied natural gas.
The "Yamal LNG" fleet consists of 15 icebreaker LNG carriers, which play a key role in the export of Russian LNG to Europe and Asia. Despite sanctions, these vessels remain a crucial tool for shipments. The investigation reveals that the FSB not only removed foreign sailors but also introduced an informant system among Russian crew members.
Documents obtained by journalists confirm that Western captains and senior officers were interrogated based on reports from their Russian colleagues. The foreigners were accused of disloyalty to the Russian authorities and criticism of the war in Ukraine, after which they were removed from their posts and expelled from the country. Russian crew members, fearing the consequences, agreed to cooperate with the intelligence services and reported any suspicious conversations or actions on board.
According to former crew members, the FSB aimed to fully replace foreign officers with Russians. To date, around 85% of the vessels are already staffed with Russian captains and senior officers, allowing the authorities to fully control the fleet. Russian sailors are compelled to unquestioningly follow the orders of charterers and officials, fearing punishment for refusal.
With the start of the war and the tightening of sanctions, Arc7-class vessels have become even more in demand for the export of Russian LNG. Despite restrictions, LNG carriers continue to dock at European terminals, including ports in Belgium and France, which receive about half of all "Yamal LNG" exports to Europe.
It is worth noting that Europe has significantly increased its purchases of Russian LNG in 2025, with the majority of these purchases coming from the "Yamal LNG" project.
