Overview
- The Arctic Metagaz issued a distress call on March 3 before experiencing sudden explosions and a large fire that led to its sinking between Libya and Malta.
- Libya’s ports and maritime authority describes the blasts as of unknown origin and has not assigned responsibility.
- Russia’s transport ministry accuses Ukraine of mounting an attack using unmanned boats launched from Libyan shores, a claim not independently verified.
- Authorities in Libya advise ships to avoid the area due to potential LNG or fuel leakage, fire danger, and marine pollution.
- Russian officials say all 30 crew members from the LNG carrier are safe, and the vessel had been loaded and en route from Murmansk.