Four LNG Carriers Formerly Owned by Oman Sold to Turkish Entities and Reflagged Under Russia, Heading North in Atlantic

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.

Equasis shows ownership through Turkey-based Celtic Maritime & Trading.

Merkuriy, formerly Ibra LNG and built in 2006 with a capacity of about 147,100 cubic meters, became Zahit LNG before switching to its current identity and Russian flag in March 2026. These changes align with a broader pattern where Novatek and affiliated interests embarked on a buying spree for second-hand carriers in 2024 to bolster export capabilities amid sanctions constraints.

Analysts at Vortexa and CHNL estimate Russia may require around 30 additional LNG carriers to sustain exports from its projects. A ban on short-term Russian LNG contracts took effect on April 25, 2026. A full prohibition on long-term Russian LNG imports is due from January 1, 2027.

Separately, nearly 100 ships associated with Russia's shadow fleet have crossed UK waters recently, Reuters reported. The shadow fleet consists of vessels used to transport Russian oil in the context of international sanctions. These crossings occurred amid geopolitical tensions related to the sanctions, with the ships undeterred by a threat from UK officials, according to the report.

The ongoing activities of the shadow fleet enable the transport of Russian oil despite restrictions imposed by various countries. Fleet operations have been monitored in response to these tensions. Shipping databases and industry reports indicate that the ultimate beneficial ownership of the four LNG carriers remains opaque.

The acquisition of these relatively aging, conventional LNG tonnage reflects efforts to expand Russia's constrained export fleet. The four reflagged vessels could support projects like Yamal LNG through direct loading or ship-to-ship transfers. Their movement north toward Russia’s LNG export hubs suggests integration into broader export sustainment efforts as logistical and sanctions challenges increase.