Norway Detains Sanctioned Chinese Heavy-Lift Ship Linked To Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 Project

Norway has detained a Chinese-owned heavy-lift ship that previously transported equipment for Russia’s sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project after inspectors found that it did not have valid flag registration or the required certificates.

The vessel, Ya Qing Hai Yang, was inspected on October 13 after seeking shelter from bad weather in Andfjorden, off Norway’s Vesterålen Islands. It was detained the following day and will remain in custody until its registration and certification problems are resolved.

Norwegian authorities also inspected another Chinese cargo ship, Jian Yang Cheng He, and found five deficiencies. The vessel is not under sanctions and has no known links to Russian energy projects. It can leave after correcting the problems.

The detention comes as Western countries continue to monitor ships involved in transporting equipment and supplies for Russia’s sanctioned energy projects.

The Norwegian Maritime Authority found during its inspection that Ya Qing Hai Yang did not have valid registration with a flag state or the necessary certificates.

Dag Inge Aarhus, the authority’s communications director, told High North News that the ship would remain detained until the issues were resolved.

The vessel, which has the IMO number 1021570, was previously named Ocean 28. It was sailing under the Guatemalan flag, according to reports by The Insider.

Guatemala does not have a publicly accessible ship register. The Insider cited Lloyd’s List in describing the flag as potentially false.

Aarhus said he could not immediately confirm whether this was Norway’s first detention involving a vessel sailing under a false flag. The authority would need to check its records. However, no earlier case of Norway detaining a vessel over fraudulent flag registration has been identified in public reports.

Ya Qing Hai Yang was involved in transporting equipment for Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project in October 2024, when it was operating under the name Ocean 28.

The vessel carried large power-generation modules built by Chinese company Wison from China to the Utrenny terminal in Russia. The terminal serves Arctic LNG 2, a natural gas project operated by Russian company Novatek on the Gydan Peninsula.

High North News previously reported on the transport arrangements used to deliver the equipment to Russia despite sanctions.

In January 2025, the United States sanctioned the vessel’s operator and related companies. The ship was later added to sanctions lists by the European Union and other jurisdictions.

Ya Qing Hai Yang is designed to carry heavy and oversized cargo, not oil or liquefied natural gas. Its connection to Arctic LNG 2 comes from its earlier delivery of power-generation equipment for the project.

Starboard Maritime Intelligence data reviewed by The Insider showed that the vessel travelled from Hong Kong along the Northern Sea Route, making several stops in Russia’s Far East. It was spotted several kilometres from the Norwegian border on the Russian side earlier in October.

According to MarineTraffic data cited by Militarnyi, the vessel left the Chinese port of Zhuhai on August 2 at 19:28 local time (UTC+8). It was later reported anchored near the Norwegian island of Andøya.

Norwegian authorities also inspected Jian Yang Cheng He, a Chinese-flagged cargo ship with IMO number 9813137.

Inspectors found five deficiencies on the vessel. However, it is not under international sanctions, and no links to Russian energy projects have been established. It can leave once the problems are corrected.

According to Starboard Maritime Intelligence data cited by The Insider, both ships travelled from Hong Kong along the Northern Sea Route and made several stops in Russia’s Far East.

The Barents Observer reported that the vessels had been near the Norwegian-Russian border since early October while waiting for better weather.

Some reports said both ships had been detained. However, the Norwegian Maritime Authority gave different accounts of the two incidents.

Ya Qing Hai Yang was detained over its registration and certification problems, while Jian Yang Cheng He was allowed to leave after correcting its deficiencies.

Western governments have continued to target vessels involved in supporting Russia’s oil and gas exports since sanctions were imposed over the war in Ukraine.

Russia has used ships with complex ownership and operating arrangements to keep energy exports moving despite restrictions.

Although Ya Qing Hai Yang is not an oil or LNG tanker, its earlier delivery of equipment to Arctic LNG 2 links it to Russia’s sanctioned energy sector.

Earlier in October, the United Kingdom sanctioned newly acquired tankers intended to help Russia continue exporting LNG despite restrictions.

On October 12, the French Navy intercepted the oil tanker DF Peak in the Indian Ocean. Militarnyi reported that the vessel was linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.

Ya Qing Hai Yang remains detained while its registration and certification issues are addressed. Norwegian authorities have not announced when it could be released. Jian Yang Cheng He can leave after correcting the five deficiencies found during its inspection.

References: highnorthnews, ukrainetoday