Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd. is seeking help from the Japanese government after a surprise decision by the European Union to sanction three of its liquefied natural gas tankers linked to a Russian project.
As Bloomberg reports, “We are not at all happy about this, so we are now lobbying the EU through various channels, including the Japanese government,” Chief Executive Officer Takeshi Hashimoto said in an interview on Tuesday.
The North Moon, North Ocean and North Light — managed by Mitsui OSK — were included in the 17th package of sanctions adopted by the European Council last week. The measures were part of the EU’s mounting efforts to push Moscow into a peace deal with Ukraine, addressing workarounds to previously imposed restrictions.
The three vessels recently helped move shipments from Yamal LNG, which is not under sanctions. They loaded cargoes transshipped near the port of Murmansk, where cargoes arrive on ice-class ships directly from the plant, according to shipping data compiled by Bloomberg.
You can read additional information here.
