Mukran LNG Terminal Resumes Operations After Icebreakers Cut Channel Through Frozen Baltic

Germany’s Mukran LNG terminal off the Baltic coast has restarted operations after weeks of disruption, following icebreaking efforts that reopened a navigable channel through unusually heavy sea ice in the bay off Rügen Island. The floating LNG import facility had been effectively cut off as the Prorer Wiek bay froze over, preventing LNG carriers from safely entering or leaving the terminal.

The federal multipurpose vessel Neuwerk initially led the icebreaking campaign, carving a passage through dense sea ice to reconnect the terminal with open water. Neuwerk, normally deployed in the North Sea for coastal protection and maritime safety, was redirected to the Baltic thanks to its reinforced hull and ability to operate in moderate ice conditions.

After Neuwerk suffered a technical issue and had to return to port for repairs, the chartered tug VB Bremen Fighter took over icebreaking duties to keep the approach channel open. This allowed the LNG carrier Maran Gas Nice, which had been unable to depart since late January, to finally leave Mukran on 11 February once a clear route was established.

A second LNG carrier, Minerva Amorgos, has been waiting offshore since 3 February and is now expected to be escorted into the terminal as conditions permit, under the coordination of waterway authority WSA Ostsee and terminal operator Deutsche ReGas.

While the terminal was effectively icebound, Mukran stopped supplying gas to Germany’s transmission system in early February, contributing to a sharp drop in national LNG imports. Gas inflows fell by more than 40%, from about 35 million cubic meters per day to 20 million cubic meters per day, pushing storage inventories to their lowest seasonal levels in more than a decade.

Mukran has become a critical part of Germany’s post‑Russia gas architecture and is currently the largest FSRU‑based LNG terminal in Europe by throughput, handling about 12.9 TWh of gas equivalent over the last three months alone. January volumes reached roughly 4.4 TWh, but February receipts are expected to be substantially lower because of the ice‑related disruption.

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Authorities across the Baltic region – including Finland, Sweden and Estonia – have reported one of the harshest ice seasons in years, particularly in shallow bays and coastal gulfs. Demand for icebreaker assistance has surged as navigation channels narrowed, forcing some countries to reactivate older reserve icebreakers or extend their deployment to keep trade moving.

For Mukran, the reopening of the channel marks a crucial step in restoring LNG flows, but operators caution that continued cold weather and shifting ice conditions could still affect shipping schedules and terminal operations in the coming weeks.