Shipyard in Denmark continues to service Russian gas carriers — FT
The Danish shipyard Fayard continues to service Arc7 ice-class tankers that transport liquefied natural gas from Russia’s Yamal project.
This is reported by the Financial Times.
As the publication notes, Fayard remains the only shipyard in the EU that provides dry dock services for such vessels. Due to their specialized design, Arc7-class tankers depend on European shipyards that possess the necessary technical expertise and are located near major gas transport routes.
According to the non-governmental organization Urgewald, six of the 15 Arc7-class ice-class tankers are scheduled to undergo repairs at the Danish shipyard this summer. Last year, Fayard serviced five vessels operating on routes related to the Yamal project.
At the same time, the European Union has already agreed to a ban on providing maritime services to Russian LNG tankers, which is set to take effect in 2027. The restriction is part of a broader plan to phase out Russian gas.
In August 2025, the Dutch company Damen, which had also previously serviced the Arc7 fleet, announced the termination of such cooperation in accordance with Dutch foreign policy. Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Damen has accepted eight such vessels, while Fayard has accepted 15.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had previously criticized the shipyard’s activities, stating that assisting vessels involved in the export of Russian LNG was “utterly incomprehensible” and must be stopped.
Despite efforts to reduce dependence on Russian energy resources, LNG imports from the Yamal project to the EU in the first quarter of 2026 rose by 17% compared to the same period last year, reaching 5 million tons. This was due to restrictions on energy supplies amid the crisis in the Persian Gulf.
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian ambassador for an official meeting to express a strong protest. This step was prompted by Moscow’s recent statements, which contained direct threats against foreign personnel and diplomatic missions in Ukraine.
In 2025, Russia lost its status as the largest exporter of pipeline natural gas, yielding the top spot to Norway.
