Overview
- The sanctioned tanker Arctic Metagaz has been adrift for about two weeks after early‑March explosions north of Sirte, with ongoing detonations, gas leaks and a pronounced list reported.
- Malta has imposed a 7‑kilometer exclusion zone and says substantial LNG and fuel remain on board, warning of risks to marine ecosystems and the islands’ desalination‑based water supply.
- Italy has positioned a navy tug near the vessel and offered specialist pollution‑response assets, with the ship located in Malta’s search‑and‑rescue zone about 37 nautical miles from Malta and 43 from Italy.
- Response teams are assessing options that avoid sending personnel onto the tanker, which authorities judge too dangerous to board at present.
- Russia asserts coastal states bear responsibility under international norms, maintains contact with the owner and local authorities, accuses Ukraine of a water‑drone attack, and Kyiv has not commented; the ship is on EU and U.S. sanctions lists linked to a shadow fleet.