Video: Sanctioned Russian LNG Tanker Catches Fire After Explosions In Mediterranean

Tanker fire — Image for representation purposes only

A Russian-flagged LNG tanker under Western sanctions caught fire in the central Mediterranean early Tuesday after reported explosions. The crew abandoned the vessel.

Malta’s Armed Forces said all crew members from the ship, identified as Arctic Metagaz, were found safe in a lifeboat inside Libya’s Search and Rescue Region (SRR).

The incident happened around 0400 local time in waters between Malta and Libya, a key shipping route linking Europe to the Suez Canal.

Maritime security sources said the tanker experienced one or more explosions before flames spread across the vessel. Videos shared on social media on March 3 showed a large fire near the forward section of the ship.

The 77,551-deadweight-tonne (dwt) gas carrier briefly transmitted an Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal late Monday.

The signal placed the vessel south of Malta, moving at about 16 knots and heading for Port Said, Egypt. It was believed to be sailing east toward the Suez Canal after leaving Murmansk on February 24.

Ship-tracking data showed the tanker had been operating with limited AIS transmissions in recent months.

The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) confirmed its Rescue Coordination Centre received a distress alert from the vessel while it was sailing outside Malta’s designated Search and Rescue (SAR) area.

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

— The Insider (@the_ins_ru) March 3, 2026

The AFM said it immediately began verification procedures to confirm the ship’s exact location. Authorities also sent navigational warnings to nearby vessels and contacted relevant international agencies.

Survivors were later located in a lifeboat within the Libyan SRR. Authorities confirmed that all crew members were safely aboard the lifeboat during the rescue operation.

Another commercial vessel in the area assisted in the rescue.

The LNG carrier was built in 2003 and has operated under several names in recent years, including Metagas Energy and Everest Energy. It previously sailed under the flags of Palau, Curaçao, and Saint Maarten before switching to the Russian flag in April last year.

The United States sanctioned the vessel in August 2024, linking it to Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project and alleging involvement in ship-to-ship transfers. The European Union and the United Kingdom added the tanker to their sanctions lists in 2025.

Equasis data shows the vessel’s commercial management is based in India.

Maritime security sources told Reuters the fire may have been caused by a naval drone attack, with speculation about possible Ukrainian involvement. However, no evidence has been released publicly, and no group has claimed responsibility.

Security firm EOS Risk Group said the vessel may have been hit by a drone while sailing through the central Mediterranean after loading LNG from a floating storage unit.

Malta’s authorities have not confirmed the cause of the explosion.

Officials said the environmental risk could be limited because the ship was carrying LNG, not crude oil. LNG is flammable but evaporates quickly if released, reducing the risk of long-term marine pollution compared to an oil spill.

Reference: Reuters

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