Kathrine Frich
For centuries, the Arctic has tested the limits of exploration and endurance.
Its frozen waters offer both a promise of power and a constant reminder of nature’s dominance over human ambition.
Even today, with satellites, nuclear icebreakers and global trade at stake, the ice still decides who passes and who doesn’t.
The Buran’s struggle
A Russian liquefied natural gas tanker named Buran has been locked in Arctic ice north of the Bering Strait for nearly a week, according to satellite data cited by maritime monitoring sources.
The vessel is part of Russia’s so-called “ghost fleet” older, often uninsured ships used to bypass Western sanctions and keep energy exports flowing.
Launched in 2023, the Buran left the Kamchatka Peninsula after unloading its cargo on October 26 and began navigating the Northern Sea Route, which runs along Russia’s northern coast.
By October 29, it had reached the Chukchi Sea but has since struggled to find a way through thickening ice, reportedly making repeated north–south maneuvers in search of an opening.
Risking the northern route
The incident highlights the risks Moscow faces as it pushes its fleet to continue operations despite early winter ice.
With only moderate Arc4 ice classification, the Buran can sail alone in light ice but requires escort in severe conditions. No such escort appears to be present.
Russia relies heavily on this route to move gas from its Arctic LNG 2 project, one of the country’s largest energy developments.
The facility has been hindered by U.S. sanctions, and Novatek, the operator, has turned to unregistered or lightly regulated ships to reach customers in Asia.
Reinforcements and delays
The Buran is not alone. Its sister ship, the Voskhod, is advancing slowly from the west behind the nuclear icebreaker Sibir.
Their convoy is moving at barely five knots, with each kilometer of progress taking hours.
The East Siberian Sea’s thick floes are closing as quickly as they open, leaving crews exhausted and uncertain how long the route will remain navigable.
According to Norwegian consultancy Eikland Energy, the start of the winter season in two weeks will likely make continued exports impossible.
“Maintaining shipments from the Arctic LNG 2 at current levels will be impossible,” said CEO Kjell Eikland in comments reported by maritime media.
The limits of endurance
Novatek has already redirected several vessels south through the Suez Canal, but that route carries its own dangers due to attacks near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Russia’s only LNG carrier capable of enduring heavy Arctic ice alone is the Christophe de Margerie, a high-capacity Arc7-class ship.
New vessels of the same type are still delayed at the Zvezda shipyard.
For the Kremlin, each completed voyage represents defiance of Western sanctions and proof that its energy exports can survive isolation.
But the Buran’s current struggle shows how fragile that defiance becomes when confronted with the reality of the Arctic, a place where even the most determined power can find itself at a standstill.
Sources: El economista, Reuters, Eikland Energy, maritime monitoring reports, AFP
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, who may have used AI in the preparation
