Since August 2025, the number of such vessels under Russian jurisdiction has almost doubled, from ten to nineteen, according to industry presentation data cited by Vedomosti.

Their combined deadweight has jumped twentyfold, from 80,000 tonnes to 1.56 million tonnes, while total cargo capacity has increased twenty-onefold, from 138,000 to 2.9 million cubic meters.

The fleet is expanding mainly from two sources. First, Russia is actively re-registering vessels built at foreign shipyards. Second, the Zvezda Far Eastern Shipbuilding Complex has begun commissioning new Arctic LNG tankers intended for the Arctic LNG 2 project.

The lead vessel in the series, Alexey Kosygin, began operating along the Northern Sea Route in late December 2025, while the second LNG carrier, Konstantin Posyet, set out on its maiden voyage this August. The shipyard is preparing to deliver the project’s third tanker.

At the beginning of last year, only one LNG carrier, Portovy, was listed in the Russian register. There are now nineteen, and this is not the limit.

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, speaking at Innoprom, confirmed that three more ice-class LNG carriers will join the fleet in the coming years. A specialized fleet capable of operating in severe ice conditions is essential for Arctic development and year-round navigation along the Northern Sea Route.

Expanding Russia’s own tonnage reduces dependence on foreign carriers and insurers, which is especially important given sanctions restrictions. For the Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG 2 projects, the availability of LNG carriers under the Russian flag is becoming a prerequisite for stable logistics.