A severely damaged Russian tanker carrying liquefied natural gas has drifted into Libyan territorial waters, raising fears of an ecological disaster, Italy's civil protection agency confirmed on Wednesday. The vessel, named Arctic Metagaz, has been adrift in the Mediterranean for two weeks after being struck by a suspected drone attack near Malta.
The tanker is part of Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet' used to evade sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The attack left a large hole in the hull, and the crew is believed to have been rescued between Malta and Libya. Earlier this week, the vessel was adrift between Malta and the Italian island of Lampedusa, prompting six EU nations to warn the European Commission of an 'imminent and serious risk of a major ecological disaster'.
Italy's civil protection agency stated that the vessel is now in Libyan waters, making it the responsibility of Libyan authorities. Libya has issued a navigation advisory urging caution in the area, where sea conditions are rough. No leaks have been detected, but the agency highlighted two main risks: the potential dispersion of 90 tonnes of heavy oil or diesel onboard, and the possible release of natural gas, the quantity of which remains uncertain.
Russia's foreign ministry acknowledged the situation, stating that Moscow's involvement depends on 'concrete circumstances'. Meanwhile, Russia's transport ministry claimed the vessel was attacked by Ukrainian naval drones launched from the Libyan coast, a claim that has not been independently verified.
