Russian Tanker Arctic-Metagaz Continues Dangerous Drift in the Mediterranean Sea

The Russian tanker Arctic-Metagaz, which is currently under international sanctions and loaded with liquefied natural gas (LNG), is continuing its dangerous drift in the Mediterranean Sea. Other vessels have been advised to keep their distance from the tanker due to the explosion risk posed by its compromised condition.

This troubling situation was reported by the French newspaper Le Monde, which detailed the "alarming odyssey" of the ghost ship. The Libyan maritime authority has described the vessel's state as "out of control." The Arctic-Metagaz, which departed from the port of Murmansk in Russia heading toward Port Said in Egypt, has suffered a significant breach at the waterline, resulting from an explosion and fire that occurred on March 3.

After the tanker faced the risk of sinking along with its cargo of 60,000 tons of LNG, the crew of approximately thirty sailors was evacuated. The 277-meter-long vessel drifted near the Italian coast before eventually moving closer to the shores of Libya.

The Libyan National Oil Corporation attempted to regain control of the tanker by dispatching a tugboat; however, on Thursday, the cable connecting the tug to the gas carrier snapped. This incident caused the tanker to drift back into international waters. All vessels have been advised to maintain a distance of at least 10 nautical miles (18.5 km) from the Arctic-Metagaz, as noted by Le Monde.

Several maritime experts believe that the tanker is heading towards Malta. Le Monde also cites comments from an LNG expert who indicated that two tanks on the vessel exploded, but two others, each with a capacity of 35,000 m³, remain intact. "The LNG will gradually heat up and evaporate through valves into the atmosphere. This process could take about a thousand days. Therefore, there is a significant risk of explosion," he reported.

The expert emphasized that the Arctic-Metagaz "needs to be towed and anchored in a deserted area of the coast, far from shipping routes." The cause of the tanker’s damage remains a subject of debate. One theory, supported by Moscow, claims that the gas carrier was attacked by a drone launched by Ukrainian forces from the Libyan coast.

However, expert Thomas Scalabre points out that the method of attack differs from previous incidents. He stated, "Ukrainian forces have exclusively targeted oil tankers that are under EU sanctions and do not carry oil cargo to eliminate any risk of pollution." He also highlighted that they always aim for the stern of the vessel, where the engine room is located, to complicate repairs.

Scalabre also notes that "the two breaches found on the wreckage on the port and starboard sides are square in shape," which is not characteristic of damage caused by an explosive device. He adheres to the theory of an earlier incident, such as a collision with an iceberg in the Arctic Ocean, which could have caused a leak in one of the tanks. Another hypothesis suggests a membrane failure inside the tank, leading to the explosion.

If the tanker continues to drift towards the Maltese or Italian coast, Europe will undoubtedly attempt to intercept it, concludes Le Monde. However, an alternative scenario is also possible. According to the LNG expert, "it could also be sunk by someone uninterested in an investigation, such as Russia."

On March 3, it was reported that the Russian tanker Arctic-Metagaz, part of Russia's shadow fleet, caught fire in the Mediterranean Sea near the coast of Libya. The Russian Ministry of Transport traditionally blamed Ukraine for the incident.

On April 2, the Libyan Ports and Maritime Transport Authority announced that the Arctic-Metagaz, drifting in the Mediterranean Sea without a crew and carrying liquefied natural gas, could not be towed to the country's port. It was noted that due to adverse weather conditions, the tanker became disconnected from the tug, making it impossible to re-secure it.