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 Arctic Metagaz has been adrift in the Mediterranean for two weeks after being struck in a suspected drone attack near Malta earlier this month, leaving a large hole in its hull.
The vessel is part of Russia's 'shadow fleet' used to circumvent sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The crew is believed to have been rescued between Malta and Libya. Earlier this week, the tanker drifted 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'.
An Italian civil protection spokesperson stated that the vessel is now in Libyan waters, making it the responsibility of Libyan authorities. Libya issued a navigation advisory urging caution due to rough sea conditions. While no leaks have been detected, the spokesperson highlighted the risk of hydrocarbons dispersing into the sea, noting approximately 90 tonnes of heavy oil or diesel onboard, as well as potential gas dispersion from the LNG cargo.
Russia's foreign ministry acknowledged the Arctic Metagaz was adrift and said Moscow's involvement would depend on 'concrete circumstances'. Russia's transport ministry claimed the vessel was attacked by Ukrainian naval drones launched from the Libyan coast.
