Italy Warns Damaged Russian Tanker Carrying Over 60,000 MT LNG In Mediterranean Could Explode Anytime

A damaged Russian-flagged tanker carrying large quantities of liquefied natural gas (LNG) is drifting without control in the central Mediterranean Sea.

Italian authorities have warned that the vessel, Arctic Metagaz, could explode at any time, posing risks to nearby waters and coastlines.

The tanker was reportedly hit by maritime and aerial drones in early March near Maltese waters. The attack left the vessel heavily damaged, without power, and with no crew onboard.

The 277-metre-long Arctic Metagaz had sailed from Murmansk, Russia, in February and was heading towards Egypt.

On March 3, multiple explosions struck the ship in international waters about 168 nautical miles southeast of Malta.

A fire broke out, forcing all 30 crew members to abandon the vessel. Some crew members suffered burns before being rescued by the Libyan Coast Guard and taken to Benghazi.

Since then, the tanker has been drifting in the central Mediterranean without propulsion or steering.

Italian authorities say the vessel is carrying more than 60,000 metric tonnes of LNG along with around 900 metric tonnes of diesel fuel.

Other reports indicate it also has about 450 tonnes of fuel oil and 250 tonnes of diesel onboard.

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Officials have described the tanker as an “environmental bomb,” warning that the cargo could lead to a fire, explosion, or major pollution if the situation worsens.

As per the latest update, the tanker was around 45 nautical miles from Italian territorial waters and about 25 miles from Libya’s search-and-rescue zone. It is drifting southwards, away from Italy and near the island of Lampedusa.

Italian and Maltese authorities are closely monitoring the vessel’s movement. There are concerns that changing winds and currents could push it closer to European coastlines.

Senior Italian officials have said the risks are “enormous.” A high-level meeting involving defense, maritime, and civil protection authorities concluded that the vessel cannot safely enter an Italian port.

Both Italy and Malta have deployed tugboats and anti-pollution equipment in case the situation worsens.

A specialized salvage team is assessing whether the tanker can be towed or if it must be handled at sea. Responsibility for salvage lies with the vessel’s Russian owner, but there has been no confirmed coordination so far.

The Arctic Metagaz is believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” a group of older vessels used to transport oil and gas while avoiding Western sanctions imposed after the Ukraine war. These ships often operate with tracking systems turned off, making them harder to monitor and increasing safety risks.

Russia has blamed Ukraine for the attack and called it a violation of international law. Ukraine has not commented on the incident. However, Ukrainian authorities have previously said such vessels are legitimate targets because they help fund Russia’s war efforts.

Environmental groups, including the World Wildlife Fund, have warned about the possible impact of a spill or explosion.

The central Mediterranean is home to many protected marine species, and any release of LNG or fuel could cause fires, pollution, and long-term damage to the marine environment.

Maritime authorities have already advised ships to stay clear of the drifting tanker.

References: BBC, CNN

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