LSEG data revealed on Thursday that at least four LNG-laden tanks bound for the Zeebrugge LNG Terminal in Belgium were either diverted to another terminal or left idle during a Greenpeace 30-hour blockade protesting against European Union imports Russian gas. Belgium is Europe's second largest importer of Russian LNG. It received 2.3 million metric tonnes in the first eight month of this year. This was behind France, which imported 4 million tons.

Analysts at LSEG said that the Megara, the Rias Baixas Knutsen and the LNG Phecda - both of which were carrying cargo from the United States - appeared to have altered course.

LSEG data shows that the Megara left the port on Thursday evening, while the two other ships remained idle.

Data showed that the Arctic Voyager from Norway also remained idling off the coasts of Belgium.

Protestors are arrested by police

LSEG data revealed that the Arctic Voyager was now expected to arrive Thursday evening. The other three vessels were expected throughout the week. Greenpeace began its action Wednesday afternoon by using kayaks, sail boats, and life rafts to blockade the entrance to the terminal in protest of continued Russian LNG imports to the European Union despite Moscow's conflict in Ukraine. Greenpeace reported that the police arrested the protesters on Wednesday evening, and after several warnings dispersed their blockade.

Fluxys stated that the terminal's operations and output flow were not affected.

A spokesperson for the Port Antwerp-Bruges stated that other ships transporting cargo not destined to the LNG terminal were not interrupted but had to proceed with greater caution because of the protests.

As a result of pressure from Donald Trump, the EU is planning to ban Russian LNG imports one year earlier than originally planned as part of a 19. package of sanctions against Moscow. Reporting by Forrest Crellin from Paris, Alban Kachler in Gdansk and Marwa Rashid in London. Mark Potter is the editor.

(source: Reuters)