Three gas carriers operated by Japanese shipping company Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) have been formally removed from the list of vessels sanctioned by the European Union over the alleged transport of LNG produced in Russia.
The MOL LNG carriers North Moon, North Ocean and North Light have been delisted after the EU received written assurances that the ships will not be used to transport gas from Russia's Arctic LNG 2 and Yamal LNG projects.
Documents published by the European Commission confirmed the delisting of the three MOL vessels after the EU received "strong and verifiable commitments" that they would no longer be used in the transport of gas sourced from the Yamal and Arctic LNG 2 projects.
The LNG carriers had been included in the EU's 17th sanctions package announced in May of this year following concerns over their possible use for the transport of LNG as part of the supply chain operated by Russian gas company Novatek.
The latter has repeatedly objected to its inclusion in the US and EU's sanctions lists and has denied its alleged involvement with the so-called "shadow fleet" illicitly transporting Russian-produced gas.