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A heavily damaged Russian liquefied natural gas tanker has been drifting in the Mediterranean and is approaching waters near Malta, raising environmental and security concerns among regional authorities.
Aerial footage captured on Sunday shows the vessel, the Arctic Metagaz, severely burned and leaning to one side, with extensive fire damage and two large openings in the middle section of its hull. The 277-metre-long tanker has been unmanned since early March, when multiple explosions disabled it near Libya.
According to Russia, the blasts were caused by a Ukrainian drone strike. Moscow reported that all 30 crew members aboard the vessel were safely evacuated after the incident. Ukraine has not publicly addressed the allegation. The ship had previously been placed under sanctions by both the United States and the European Union because it was allegedly part of Russia’s “shadow fleet”, a group of older tankers used to transport Russian energy exports while bypassing Western restrictions.
The damaged tanker was reported to be about 50 nautical miles southwest of Malta by midday Sunday, continuing to drift without a crew. Authorities in Malta and Italy have been tracking its movement closely due to the risk of pollution if the vessel breaks apart or releases its cargo.
Italian officials said the ship was carrying substantial quantities of liquefied natural gas as well as heavy oil and diesel fuel. Libya’s port authority reported that the tanker had been transporting roughly 62,000 tonnes of LNG destined for Egypt when the explosions occurred north of the port of Sirte.
Environmental groups have warned that the fuel on board could pose a serious threat if it leaks into the Mediterranean. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) estimates the ship also contains around 900 tonnes of diesel fuel. In a statement, WWF Italy cautioned that a spill could lead to fires, toxic cryogenic vapor clouds, and long-term contamination of both marine ecosystems and the atmosphere. The organization emphasized that the surrounding waters host particularly sensitive deep-sea habitats and some of the Mediterranean’s richest biodiversity.
Although Libyan authorities initially reported that the vessel had sunk after the explosions and fire, Malta’s transport authority later clarified that the tanker remained afloat and was drifting between Malta and the Italian island of Lampedusa.
The situation has prompted high-level discussions in Italy. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni convened a meeting on Friday with ministers responsible for defense, foreign affairs, energy, maritime affairs, and civil protection to review the potential risks. Following the meeting, her office confirmed that Rome is coordinating with Malta and stands ready to provide assistance if needed.
Salvage specialists have already arrived in Malta to prepare for possible operations, and a specialized recovery ship is reportedly heading toward the area as authorities prepare for the tanker’s possible arrival in Maltese waters.
