The 3rd cargo from the Novatek-operated Yamal LNG plant in northern Russia arrived on January 10, 2018 into the Montoir terminal on France's western coast, according to Global Platts trade flow software, with sources saying it was set to undergo transshipment onto the waiting LNG Jurojin tanker.
If the transshipment takes place as expected, it will continue the trend for the 1st cargoes from Yamal LNG to be sent to Northwest Europe before being reloaded for delivery to other markets.
According to cFlow, the Fedor Litke - which loaded its 1st cargo of LNG on December 29 - was positioned next to the Vitol-controlled LNG Jurojin at Montoir.
It was unclear where the tanker will deliver the cargo once the transshipment is complete.
None of the 1st 3 cargoes from Yamal LNG - sold on a spot basis ahead of the Yamal LNG long-term contracts coming into force from April - have discharged their gas into the respective countries' grids.
By delivering into terminals in Northwest Europe, Novatek can return its 3 specialized icebreaker LNG vessels to the Yamal LNG port of Sabetta more quickly than if the tankers were to deliver LNG further afield.
At present, Novatek only has 3 tankers able to load at Yamal - the Christophe de Margerie, the Boris Vilkitsky and the Fedor Litke. A further 4 icebreakers were due to be delivered before the end of 2018.
The Christophe de Margerie was at sea carrying its 2nd cargo of LNG from Yamal having arrived at Sabetta on January 5 before setting sail again on January 8.
According to cFlow, the vessel was headed for Milford Haven, UK, home to 2 LNG import facilities - Dragon and South Hook.
The Boris Vilkitsky, meanwhile, was almost back at Sabetta, having transshipped its 1st at the Gate terminal in the Netherlands from where it was delivered into northern Spain.
