The Pskov tanker is carrying a cargo of LNG from the Yamal facility in northern Russia which it picked up in the first ship-to-ship transfer in Norway last week.

The start of the transfer operations enables Yamal's operator, Novatek, to increase output at the Arctic facility just as its third plant, or train, starts production.

A spokeswoman for the terminal, operated by Belgium's Fluxys , confirmed it had begun operations while its website listed the Pskov tanker as due to arrive on Wednesday.