Panama Initiates Flag Cancellation For Four U.S.-Sanctioned LNG Vessels

The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) is taking action to cancel the Panama flag registrations of four LNG vessels recently sanctioned by the United States.

These vessels, tied to Singaporean companies linked with Russia's Novatek, are under investigation for potentially violating Arctic LNG 2 sanctions.

The deregistration process for these ships began on October 4, just ahead of Panama’s new regulatory decree, ensuring the procedure follows prior protocols.

U.S. authorities sanctioned the vessels due to their connections with Novatek, a prominent Russian LNG producer under scrutiny for its operations.

The ships, North Air, North Mountain, North Sky, and North Way, are reported to be part of Russia’s “dark fleet,” using third-country companies to evade sanctions.

AMP, Panama’s governing body for its merchant fleet, emphasizes its commitment to monitoring vessels and ensuring compliance with international laws.

Panama has stressed its intent to maintain the integrity of its ship registry, vowing to remove any vessels involved in questionable activities.

With this move, Panama is sending a strong message to the world—its flag will not be used to bypass sanctions or harm its reputation.