Brussels , July 17, 2026
- Signatories include three Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament—Danish MEP Christel Schaldemose, Roberts Zīle and Nicolae Ștefănuță—and representatives of six European Parliament political groups
- Parliamentarians warn that Fayard’s maintenance work is preparing the Arc7 vessels for operations after the EU embargo takes effect on January 1, 2027.
- Decision-makers are calling on Fayard to use this strategic lever and end maintenance of the Arc7 fleet.
BRUSSELS / BERLIN, 17 July 2026 - A cross-party coalition of 104 parliamentarians from across Europe has called on Denmark’s Fayard shipyard and CEO Thomas Andersen to stop servicing the specialised ice-class Arc7 tankers that keep Russia’s Arctic LNG exports moving.
Specifically, the members of parliament are criticizing the fact that Fayard's maintenance work in the summer of 2026 will make the ships ready for the coming years, even though an EU embargo on Russian LNG will take effect in 2027.
The intervention follows the arrival of the Rudolf Samoylovich at Fayard on 30 June. It is the first of up to 6 Arc7 tankers identified by human rights and environmental NGO Urgewald as potentially requiring maintenance this summer, before incoming EU restrictions fully take effect.
The open letter, signed by 54 MEPs and 50 members of national and devolved parliaments from 17 countries, calls on Fayard to accept no further vessels serving Russian Arctic LNG exports and to publicly rule out any further work on them in 2026.
The parliamentarians warn that maintenance undertaken now could keep Russia’s specialised Arctic LNG fleet operating for years and weaken the impact of forthcoming EU restrictions.
The signatories span six European Parliament political groups and national parties across the political spectrum. They include three Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament—Christel Schaldemose, Roberts Zīle and Nicolae Ștefănuță—as well as former Finnish Interior and Environment Minister Maria Ohisalo, parliamentary group leaders and members of foreign affairs committees.
In their letter to Fayard CEO Thomas Andersen, the parliamentarians state:
“We therefore urge Fayard to refuse all further repair and maintenance work on Arc7 LNG tankers and other vessels serving Russian Arctic LNG exports, and to publicly confirm that no such further vessels will be accepted in 2026.
“This is not only a commercial matter. It is a question of Europe’s security, Denmark’s credibility and solidarity with Ukraine.”
Research by Urgewald, B4Ukraine and Razom We Stand identifies Fayard as the last shipyard in the EU still servicing the specialised Arc7 fleet, after Damen Shiprepair Brest stopped accepting the vessels following August 2024.
Since Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine, each of the 6 vessels identified as potentially requiring maintenance this summer has transported an average of 5.3 million tonnes of Russian LNG. This represents around €4 billion in cargo value per vessel.
The EU’s 20th sanctions package prohibits the provision of maintenance and other services to LNG tankers operating in Russia from 2027 onwards. The letter warns that servicing vessels before these measures fully take effect risks handing the Arc7 LNG fleet a final European repair window.
Fayard has already faced high level criticism over its role. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called it “inconceivable” that a Danish shipyard should service vessels carrying Russian gas.
Vladyslav Vlasiuk, sanctions adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has described the shipyard as a critical link in Russia’s logistics chain and called for servicing in European ports to end.
Fayard has previously said that its work complies with current EU rules and supports maritime safety.
Villy Søvndal MEP, member of the Greens/European Free Alliance Group and lead coordinator of the letter, said:
"If Europe truly wants to hurt Russia’s LNG business with the embargo starting in 2027, the Arc7 fleet is the crucial link in the logistics chain. Fayard should not play into Russia’s hands here and prepare the ships for a business that Europe actually intends to weaken."
Roberts Zīle MEP, Vice President of the European Parliament and member of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, said:
“We must remain vigilant and close loopholes to ensure sanctions remain effective. By continually adapting our sanctions, we demonstrate that Russia will face lasting consequences for its war of aggression against Ukraine.”
Rihards Kols MEP, member of the European Parliament and the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, said:
“Denmark has stood with Kyiv when it mattered. One shipyard should not be allowed to undercut that proud record and reputation for the sake of a maintenance contract. Fayard should stop servicing these vessels now, rather than waiting for someone else to make the decision for it.”
Małgorzata Tracz MP, member of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, said:
“This is no longer just a commercial matter. European maritime infrastructure must not be used to sustain a war of aggression. We must cut off every avenue that allows Russia to finance its attack on Europe’s future.
“These specialised Arc7 vessels are the lifeline of Russia’s Arctic LNG exports. Allowing them to be serviced in European shipyards prolongs their operational lives and ensures that Russian fossil fuel revenues continue flowing to fund the war machine. This must end.”
Oras Tynkkynen MP, member of the Parliament of Finland and Co-Chair of the Ukraine Friendship Group, said:
“Companies cannot hide behind the backs of politicians. What is clearly immoral cannot continue, even if it is still legal.
“Fayard and its owners need to bear their moral responsibility and stop servicing tankers with ties to Russian fuel exports. History will not judge kindly those who continue to profit from financing death and destruction in Ukraine.”
Jonas Sjöstedt MEP, Member of the European Parliament, The Left Group in the European Parliament, said:
“These Arc7 tankers are a vital part of one of Russia’s most lucrative businesses, directly helping to finance the illegal war against Ukraine. Without maintenance and repairs, Russia’s ability to export LNG would be significantly weakened. Every loophole left open and every service provided to these vessels make our sanctions weaker and give Russia more room to continue financing its war.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
The letter was coordinated by Villy Søvndal MEP, a Danish member of the European Parliament, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance and supported by Urgewald.
Campaign briefing: Hands Off the Arc7 Fleet
The parliamentary coalition
104 parliamentarians: 54 MEPs and 50 members of national and devolved parliaments from 17 countries—Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
The MEP signatories represent six European Parliament political groups: the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, the Greens/European Free Alliance, Renew Europe, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, The Left and the European People’s Party Group.
Fayard and the Arc7 fleet
Fayard A/S is based at Odense Port in Munkebo, Denmark. Urgewald’s research identifies it as the last shipyard in the EU still servicing the specialised Arc7 LNG tankers used by Russia’s Yamal LNG project.
Damen Shiprepair Brest stopped servicing Arc7 LNG tankers after August 2024.
Arc7 tankers combine LNG carrying capacity with the ability to navigate Arctic ice. Their maintenance requires specialist dry dock facilities, technical expertise and access to advanced spare parts.
The Rudolf Samoylovich arrived at Fayard on 30 June 2026. It is the first of up to 6 Arc7 tankers that Urgewald has identified as potentially requiring servicing during summer 2026.
