The European Union has lifted sanctions on three Japanese liquefied natural gas tankers after securing assurances they will no longer carry gas from Russian projects, Reuters reported Tuesday.
The vessels — North Moon, North Ocean and North Lighare — are operated by Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.
According to EU documents, the ships had previously conducted ship-to-ship transfers near Kildin Island in Russia’s Murmansk region, helping export gas from Russia’s Yamal LNG plant to buyers in Asia.
Brussels imposed sanctions on the tankers in May but removed them as part of its 18th sanctions package adopted on July 18 after receiving formal commitments that the vessels would cease any involvement in transporting LNG from Russia’s Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG-2 projects.
The three tankers, built last year at South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean shipyard, were originally commissioned for Russian LNG shipments but have now been withdrawn from those routes under the agreement.
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