Russian authorities have granted permission for an LNG carrier to transit the Northern Sea Route (NSR) in what would be the first voyage in the 2014 season for this type of vessel.

Records show the Dynagas-owned 155,000-cbm Arctic Aurora (built 2013) has been permitted to navigate the NSR between 13 September and 25 October.

This week, the ship, which is on a five-year charter to Statoil, was showing as bound to Hammerfest after returning from delivering a cargo to Argentina.