Malta Prepares Contingency Plan As Damaged Russian LNG Tanker Arctic Metagaz Drifts Toward Its Waters

Authorities in Malta are preparing contingency plans as the damaged Russian LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz continues drifting toward the island nation in the central Mediterranean.

The vessel, which suffered a major explosion and fire earlier this month, is now about 37–38 nautical miles southeast of Malta, still outside the country’s territorial waters.

Officials say they cannot legally intervene yet because the tanker remains beyond the 12-nautical-mile territorial limit.

However, authorities have started surveillance flights and issued maritime warnings as the drifting vessel poses potential safety risks to nearby shipping routes and coastal waters.

The Arctic Metagaz, a liquefied natural gas carrier, was hit by what Russian authorities described as a maritime drone attack on March 3.

At the time of the explosion, the vessel was sailing about 150 nautical miles southeast of Malta. The blast caused extensive fire damage and left a large hole in the ship’s hull.

Maltese officials said the tanker had passed around 25 nautical miles from Malta near Hurd’s Bank roughly 23 hours before the explosion occurred.

New photo of the Russian LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz, which suffered a massive explosion in the Mediterranean early yesterday.

The ship is a smoking hulk, with the blast nearly splitting the vessel in half. pic.twitter.com/eCKHlbThku

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 4, 2026

Monitoring flights and maritime tracking data show that the damaged tanker has been slowly drifting westward since the incident.

A notice issued by Malta’s Ports and Yachting Directorate confirmed the vessel is currently “not under command” and drifting at coordinates 35°24′.000 N and 14°27′.000 E, which places it about 37 nautical miles south of Malta.

Authorities have ordered all vessels in the area to keep at least five nautical miles away from the drifting tanker. Navigation near the ship has been prohibited due to safety concerns.

Malta’s government has begun preparing response measures in case the tanker moves closer to its coastline. Officials said action would likely be taken if the vessel drifts inside the country’s 12-nautical-mile territorial waters.

Possible steps being considered include preventing the vessel from approaching the coast, towing it away from Malta, or securing the surrounding waters to keep other ships at a safe distance.

Prime Minister Robert Abela said the government is ready to take the necessary action if the situation requires it to ensure the country’s safety. Malta’s Armed Forces have been conducting regular surveillance flights to track the vessel’s position and monitor its condition.

В Средиземном море горит российский газовоз Arctic Metagaz https://t.co/TuVXeiWxG9 pic.twitter.com/bvjka1EL7j

— The Insider (@the_ins_ru) March 3, 2026

At the time of the explosion, the tanker had a crew of 30 seafarers on board. Malta received a Mayday call at about 1:15 p.m. local time on March 3, reporting that the vessel was on fire and required immediate assistance. Officials believe the explosion itself likely happened earlier that morning at around 04:00 local time.

A reconnaissance aircraft sent to the area reported that crew members were abandoning the vessel and boarding lifeboats.

The nearby crude oil tanker Respect, an Oman-registered vessel linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, rescued the crew. The survivors were later taken to Tobruk in Libya. Reports said two crew members suffered severe burns and were admitted to a hospital in Libya.

Early reports from Libyan authorities suggested the tanker had sunk after the explosion. Later inspections showed that the vessel was still afloat but badly damaged and listing.

Images taken after the incident show heavy fire damage and the destruction of the ship’s number two LNG tank, while other sections of the vessel appear structurally intact.

Maritime specialists say the tanker’s double-hull design likely slowed flooding and helped keep the ship afloat despite the damage. However, authorities remain concerned that some LNG cargo may still be on board, which could create a risk of another explosion.

The Arctic Metagaz is believed to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet, a group of vessels used to transport Russian oil and gas outside Western oversight.

Many of these ships operate under complex ownership structures and often have unclear insurance arrangements, allowing them to continue trading with countries outside the sanctions system.

Maritime security experts say ships linked to this network frequently operate in the Mediterranean near Malta, making the area an important zone for monitoring maritime activity.

References: Maltanewsagency, maltatoday