Damaged Russian Gas Tanker Drifts Toward Libya, Sparking Environmental Fears

A severely damaged Russian tanker carrying liquefied natural gas has drifted into Libya's rescue zone after floating in the Mediterranean for two weeks. The vessel was reportedly struck by Ukrainian drones and now poses potential environmental risks as it approaches Libyan waters.

A damaged Russian gas tanker that has been floating without crew in the Mediterranean Sea for two weeks has now moved into Libya’s search and rescue territory, positioning itself roughly 40 nautical miles from Libya’s coastal boundaries, according to Italy’s civil protection officials on Friday.

The vessel, known as the Arctic Metagaz, belongs to Russia’s “shadow fleet” — ships used to transport oil and gas while circumventing international sanctions imposed due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The liquefied natural gas carrier sustained severe damage from what authorities believe was a maritime drone strike in waters near Malta earlier this month.

Russian officials claim Ukrainian naval drones were responsible for hitting and damaging the tanker. Ukrainian authorities have not issued any statement regarding the incident.

Italy’s Civil Protection department, which has been tracking the vessel’s movement, stated Friday that the primary danger currently stems from possible gas releases, though no leakage has been identified at this time.

Given current wind patterns moving southward and ocean currents, and assuming conditions remain stable, the ship could reach Libya’s coastline “from four to six days,” Civil Protection spokesman Pierfrancesco Demilito told reporters during a Rome press briefing.

Demilito reported the tanker contains approximately 450 tons of heavy oil and 250 tons of diesel for operational fuel, along with an undetermined amount of LNG that may have already partially escaped.

Officials also worry the vessel might collide with offshore drilling facilities. However, no such installations are currently positioned in the area, Demilito noted.

He explained that any rescue operations would need approval from Libyan officials since the ship has entered their rescue jurisdiction, though Italy has volunteered assistance if needed.

In a collaborative letter delivered Wednesday to the European Commission, government heads from Italy, Spain, Malta, Greece and Cyprus cautioned that the vessel creates an “imminent and serious risk” of environmental catastrophe, requesting activation of the EU’s emergency response system.

The five Mediterranean leaders called for a unified European approach to rapidly deploy necessary resources, emphasizing concerns about the tanker’s compromised structure and dangerous cargo.

While all crew members were safely evacuated, the crippled tanker continues drifting while loaded with potentially explosive fuel.

In their correspondence, the leaders stressed wider dangers from ships operating beyond international safety regulations, cautioning about threats to maritime security and environmental protection throughout the Mediterranean region.