U.S.-bound LNG Tanker with Russian LNG Diverted

Engie's Gaselys LNG tanker was diverted on Friday from the Everett terminal in Boston, Massachusetts, where gas prices have tapered off since spiking during a cold snap. The vessel picked up the cargo from storage tanks at Britain's Isle of Grain import terminal in early January. The delivery to the United States was unusual because the LNG at Isle of Grain's tanks also contained some supply from Russia's new Yamal export plant.

Yamal's main shareholder Novatek was targeted by U.S. sanctions due to Russia's role in the Ukraine crisis. In December, Yamal's first shipment aboard the Christoph de Margerie tanker deposited a cargo at Isle of Grain, leading some of that supply to be mixed into the cargo picked up by the Gaselys. After journeying more than halfway across the Atlantic, the Gaselys reversed course on Friday with a new heading for Gibraltar, a popular bunkering and anchorage point.

Spot natural gas prices in New England averaged $12 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) this week and $19/mmBtu so far this month due to a freeze that depleted gas supplies used to heat homes and businesses in the first week of the new year. That compared with an average of $3.80/mmBtu for all of 2017.