Russian Dark Fleet Tactics on the Northern Sea Route
With the Northern Sea Route open, Russia can move oil and LNG along a corridor under its control, reducing exposure to interdiction and attacks. President Putin opened the Sever Bay Terminal, and sanctioned Arc7 tankers have begun serving it. After leaving the corridor, dark fleet sanctions evasion procedures and STS transfers remain necessary, including STS operations spotted east of Chongin in North Korea.
Why it matters: This matters for the sanctions theme because the NSR's protection ends at the corridor, so dark fleet STS transfers remain necessary to conceal cargo origins.