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Four LNG Carriers Formerly Owned by Oman Sold to Turkish Entities and Reflagged Under Russia, Heading North in Atlantic
Four liquefied natural gas carriers, previously part of Oman's Asyad Shipping fleet, have been sold, renamed multiple times, and transferred to the Russian flag. They are now heading north in the Atlantic, with one signaling Murmansk as its destination. This occurs amid tightening sanctions on Russian energy exports and reports of nearly 100 shadow fleet ships crossing UK waters.
Apr 28, 7:40 PM·2m read2 sources
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Four recently reflagged liquefied natural gas carriers linked to new Turkish-controlled entities are heading north in the Atlantic. Vessel tracking data shows Kosmos and Merkuriy steaming north off the coast of Portugal as of April 28, 2026. Luch and Orion are following off West Africa as of the same date.
In recent days before April 28, 2026, Luch started signaling Murmansk as the intended destination. The four vessels were formerly part of Oman’s Asyad Shipping fleet and were sold en bloc earlier in 2026 for roughly $110 million, according to company disclosures and shipbroking sources.
Since the sale, they have undergone multiple renamings, brief re-registration under the Indian Register of Shipping, and eventual transfer to the Russian flag and maritime register.
New controlling interests behind the vessels are linked to Turkish entities, including Fidelity Denizcilik ve Ticaret and Celtic Maritime & Trading. Kosmos, formerly Salalah LNG and built in 2005 with a capacity of about 148,000 cubic meters, was renamed Cagri LNG and then Ocean LNG before adopting its current Russian-flagged identity.
Equasis database lists it as owned by Hong Kong-based Mighty Ocean Shipping with Turkish management links.
Luch, formerly Ibri LNG and built in 2006 with a capacity of about 147,000 cubic meters, became Akit LNG and then Lake LNG before re-emerging under its current name tied to Mighty Ocean Shipping. Orion, formerly Nizwa LNG and built in 2005 with a capacity of about 147,700 cubic meters, was renamed Vakit LNG and Sea LNG before its latest transition.
