Arctic Metagaz Anchors 20 Miles Off Libya, Threatening Spill From 60,000-Tonne LNG Cargo
Updated
Updated · Eco-Business · Jun 1
Arctic Metagaz Anchors 20 Miles Off Libya, Threatening Spill From 60,000-Tonne LNG Cargo
4 articles · Updated · Eco-Business · Jun 1
Arctic Metagaz is now anchored about 20 nautical miles off Libya after drifting unmanned across the Mediterranean since a suspected Ukrainian drone strike near Malta in March.
Sea-Watch images show heavy hull damage on the 277-metre tanker, which is believed to hold about 60,000 tonnes of LNG plus 450 tonnes of fuel oil and 250 tonnes of diesel.
Libya has invoked the Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention and Marpol, and asked the International Maritime Organization and other countries for help; the IMO says it is ready to provide technical and coordinative assistance.
Russia, the vessel's flag state, has not responded, while Italy and Malta were reported willing to act only if the tanker entered their territorial waters.
The case highlights the environmental danger of Russia's sanctions-evading shadow fleet—often ageing, poorly insured ships whose accidents increasingly leave nearby Global South states to bear the cleanup risk.
Adrift with 60,000 tonnes of explosive gas, can the Mediterranean's floating time bomb be defused?
Is Russia's ghost fleet of tankers a cover for a new form of undersea warfare?
A Russian ghost tanker threatens Europe. Who pays when sanctions create an environmental ticking time bomb?
61,000-Tonne LNG Tanker Crisis: The Arctic Metagaz and the Mediterranean’s Looming Environmental Disaster
Overview
In June 2026, the Arctic Metagaz, a Russian-owned LNG tanker, remains stranded near Benghazi, Libya after suffering severe damage from an alleged attack in early March. Russian officials accused Ukraine of orchestrating the assault using drones launched from the Libyan coast, leading to explosions on board and the vessel's uncontrolled drift across the Mediterranean. This incident has created a growing environmental and humanitarian threat, as the tanker carries hazardous LNG and fuel oil. The crisis highlights major gaps in international maritime law and the challenges of managing 'shadow fleet' vessels operating under opaque ownership and sanctions.