Sanctioned Vessel IRIS Nears SAAM FSU
This week, SynMax Leviaton's LNG vessel tracking platform closely observed developments concerning the sanctioned LNG tanker IRIS (IMO 9953523), formerly known as NORTH STAR. Currently, IRIS is drifting just outside Murmansk transshipment waters and is reportedly heading towards the sanctioned SAAM Floating Storage Unit (FSU), approximately 50 kilometers northwest in Ura-Guba Bay. Although the vessel’s current captain’s log destination indicates "RUMMK" (Murmansk), IRIS has already passed Murmansk and continues to approach SAAM FSU.
According to AIS data captured by SynMax Leviaton, IRIS loaded cargo from the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 (ALNG 2) facility on June 28, 2025. The vessel’s AIS showed a notable change in draft from 9.4 meters to 11.8 meters within two days of leaving the terminal, confirming the loading of cargo. SynMax Theia, with its advanced satellite imagery capabilities, captured images showing the IRIS docked at the facility. Theia is Synmax cutting-edge maritime domain awareness platform. Combining the vast coverage of satellite imagery with the precision of machine learning, Theia brings actionable intelligence to the maritime industry, transforming data into strategic oversight.
This cargo represents the first shipment from ALNG 2 this year, marking renewed loading activity since operations ceased in October 2024. SynMax Vulcan's Infrastructure Watch (IW) first reported signs of operational activity at ALNG 2 earlier this year on March 30, confirmed by satellite imagery showing flaring at the facility's main flare stack and Gravity Based Structure 2 (GBS2). The imagery further revealed significant snow accumulation around the plant earlier in the year, indicating that conventional LNG carriers would have been unable to access the terminal for cargo loading until the onset of summer. IRIS, constructed in 2024 with an Arc 4 ice-class rating designed for navigation through light sea-ice conditions, successfully loaded the cargo as seasonal conditions improved.
SynMax Leviaton previously tracked Russia's "dark fleet" activity and documented the chronology of Arctic LNG 2 (ALNG2). Despite the previous eight confirmed cargo loadings, Novatek has struggled to secure buyers, resulting in ship-to-ship (STS) transfers with the sanctioned Floating storage units - SAAM FSU near Murmansk and Koryak FSU in Kamchatka Bay, where the cargo remains stored as buyers avoided risks associated with sanctioned shipments. Subsequently, many vessels from the sanctioned fleet underwent maintenance or have remained empty near Murmansk.
As IRIS approaches SAAM FSU for an anticipated ship-to-ship transfer to offload its cargo, SynMax Leviaton, in collaboration with SynMax Theia, will closely monitor developments and provide timely updates.
In a significant market development, LNG Canada's Phase 1 commenced operations this week, successfully exporting its inaugural cargo. Shell-chartered GasLog Glasgow departed fully loaded from the LNG Canada facility on July 1, 2025, bound for Incheon regasification terminal in South Korea, according to SynMax Leviaton.
This first shipment opens a strategically important LNG trade route from the east coast of the North American continent directly to Asian markets. Previously, LNG exports from North America predominantly transited through the Panama Canal, incurring heavy tolls and experiencing significant delays exacerbated by drought conditions last year.
The new trade route significantly cuts transit times, reducing voyages from an average of 40 days via Cape of Good Hope and 25 days through the Panama Canal down to an average of approximately 15 days from LNG Canada. This reduction not only enhances operational efficiency but also substantially lowers emissions emitted from the LNG vessels.
Next, the Petronas-chartered vessel Puteri Sejingang is scheduled to load cargo at the LNG Canada terminal on July 6, 2025. SynMax Leviaton will maintain vigilant tracking of this vessel and other developments, providing clients with real-time updates and forecasted positions.