The conventional LNG carrier Arctic Pioneer arrived at the Utrenniy terminal at Arctic LNG 2 on July 29, according to ship-tracking data, becoming the first non-ice-class LNG tanker to reach the project this year. The Kara Sea and Ob Bay are now largely free of sea ice, allowing conventional LNG carriers to reach the terminal without icebreaking capability. Additional conventional LNG carriers are expected to converge on Arctic LNG 2 in the coming weeks as Russia seeks to maximize exports before winter again limits access primarily to Arc7 vessels. Conventional LNG carriers can only access Arctic LNG 2 during the relatively short summer navigation season. Russia has previously dispatched conventional, non-ice-class oil tankers through the NSR during favorable ice conditions later in the summer.