This publication provides an overview of LNG exports from the Yamal LNG project from the port of Sabetta in 2024. The information is based on AIS data analysis of vessel movements. The number of voyages from the port of Sabetta is determined by the moment the vessel departs from Sabetta between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024. A voyage is considered either the transportation of cargo to the destination port or to transshipment to another ship near Kildin Island. We count and record departures from the port of Sabetta. The cargo volume calculations are approximate and based on an assumed average cargo parcel of 74,000 tons.
In 2024, we registered a record number of 287 LNG voyages from the port of Sabetta. In 2023, this figure was 273 voyages, and in 2022 – 280 voyages.
Table 1. Number of LNG Voyages and Amount of cargo (mln tn) in period 2021 – 2024
Graph 1: Number of LNG Voyages by Month in 2024
Table 2: Number of LNG Voyages by Destination and Ice class in 2024
LNG Fleet
A total of 26 vessels participated in LNG transportation in 2024. Of these, 15 are Arc 7 ice-class LNG carriers, which operate on this project year-round. Another 6 Arc 4 ice-class vessels were involved from July to November, and 5 non-ice-class vessels from August to October. In total, the additional vessels made 36 voyages. The composition of the additional fleet involved in transportation in 2024 is almost identical to that of 2023.
Table 3. List of LNG carriers worked at Yamal LNG project in 2024 and Number of voyages by destination
By destination, all shipments can be divided into 3 types: 1 – Voyages to Europe, including cargoes for consumption in Europe and cargoes for transshipment and further dispatch. 2 – Voyages to Asian countries, and 3 – Voyages for cargo transshipment near Kildin Island, not far from Murmansk port. We did not track the further movement of cargo after transshipment near Kildin Island.
Voyages to Europe
In 2024, 227 voyages were sent to Europe. Of these, 132 voyages were in the first half of the year or during winter navigation season. In the second half of the year, there were 95 voyages.
Graph 2: Number of LNG Voyages to Europe by Month in 2024
The difference is explained by the fact that from the end of June, transportation in the eastern direction begins, and some of Arc 7 ice-class vessels are used there. From July, additional Arc 4 ice-class vessels participate in transportation to Europe, and from August to October, non-ice-class vessels are also involved. Thus, in August, the number of voyages to Europe by Arc 7 ice-class vessels decreased to only 3 voyages, while in January there were 24 voyages. The average delivery time of cargo from Sabetta to European ports in 2024 was about 8.5 days.
Table 4: Number of LNG Voyages to Europe by Country in 2024
Voyages to Asia
In 2024, 41 voyages were made to Asian ports, mainly to China. As seen from the Table 5, voyages to China were carried out both through the eastern route via the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and the western route. The western route in this case refers to voyages from Sabetta to China via the southern route around the Cape of Good Hope. There were 6 such voyages. All of them were the last voyages of the season for additional Arc 4 ice-class vessels in November and for non-ice-class vessels in October. The average voyage time to China from Sabetta via the southern route was 42.5 days.
Table 5. Number of LNG Voyages to Asia by country in 2024
Graph 3: Number of LNG Voyages to Asia by Month in 2024
The main volume of deliveries to Asia was carried out by Arc 7 ice-class vessels. They accounted for 31 voyages. Transportation began at the end of June and ended in November. The average delivery time to China from Sabetta via the NSR was 19 days. Another 8 voyages to Asia via the NSR were made by additional Arc 4 ice-class vessels and 2 voayges by non-ice-class vessels via southern route.
Ship-to-ship transshipment near Kildin Island
The remaining 19 voyages were for transshipment near Kildin Island. We did not track the further movement of cargo after transshipment. More active transshipment near Kildin Island was observed in April – 5 voyages, and 3 voyages each in November and December. From July to October, we did not observe any cargo transshipment near Kildin Island from vessels departing from the port of Sabetta under the Yamal LNG project.
