The damaged gas carrier Arctic Metagas, left without its crew after an attack, is drifting in the Mediterranean Sea and could pose a serious threat to the environment and shipping safety.
In a letter to the European Commission, nine countries warned that the vessel’s technical condition and the nature of its cargo pose an immediate threat of a major environmental accident virtually in the center of EU waters.
According to the Russian side, the crew abandoned the vessel after the attack on March 3. At that time, 450 tons of heavy fuel oil, 250 tons of diesel fuel, and a significant volume of natural gas remained on board. The vessel is reportedly seriously damaged, and localized fires are being detected.
The Arctic Metagas is currently adrift in the Mediterranean Sea. According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the shipowner is monitoring its location, and authorized Russian authorities are reportedly in contact with the owner and relevant foreign services.
Meanwhile, Maltese authorities have been warning for several days that the unmanned vessel poses a danger to other ships in the area. According to Italian media, Italian Navy vessels—a tugboat and a specialized vessel with pollution control equipment—are near the LNG carrier.
Russia states that responsibility for resolving the situation lies primarily with the coastal states. Moscow claims the LNG carrier was attacked near Maltese territorial waters. The Russian Ministry of Transport stated that the vessel was leaving Murmansk, and that the attack was allegedly carried out by Ukrainian unmanned boats from the coast of Libya.