Russian Tanker Arctic Metagaz Leaks in Mediterranean, Environmental Disaster Threat
International maritime authorities have issued stern warnings to all seafarers to avoid the Russian fuel tanker Arctic Metagaz, which is adrift without crew between Italian and Maltese waters. The 277-metre vessel suffered severe damage following an alleged drone attack in early March.
Aerial surveillance footage shows the vessel blackened from fire, listing to one side, and bearing a large hole in the port side of the hull. Around the ship, oily substance layers are becoming visible, raising concerns of a large-scale environmental disaster in the Mediterranean Sea.
According to Italian authorities, Arctic Metagaz was carrying hazardous cargo comprising 900 metric tonnes of diesel fuel and over 60,000 metric tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The vessel is suspected to be part of Moscow’s “shadow fleet”, a collection of ageing ships used covertly to transport Russian oil to circumvent Western sanctions.
The ship was en route from Murmansk to Egypt when attacked on 3 March in international waters, approximately 168 nautical miles south-east of Malta. Russia’s Foreign Ministry has blamed Ukrainian naval drones for the incident.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova strongly condemned the attack. “This attack on a commercial vessel is an act of terrorism and a clear violation of international law,” she said firmly. She also lamented the silence of European nations despite the incident occurring near their waters.
The Italian government under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has convened an emergency meeting with defence and energy ministers. The result: Italy firmly rejected the possibility of the vessel docking at its ports.
“The ship cannot dock safely. It is a time bomb filled with gas,” said a ministry spokesperson who attended the meeting, speaking to CNN.
By last Sunday, the vessel was reported to have drifted to within 20 nautical miles of Linosa Island, Sicily. Both Italy and Malta have deployed tugboats and anti-pollution equipment to anticipate further leaks.
Global conservation organisation WWF has warned that the sinking or leaking of this vessel would have catastrophic consequences for Mediterranean ecosystems. The area where the vessel is drifting is home to nearly all protected marine species, including migration routes for bluefin tuna and swordfish.
“A potential spill could cause seawater fires, cryogenic clouds that are fatal to wildlife, and long-term pollution of water and atmosphere,” WWF stated in an official statement. They added that such damage could be irreversible and devastate local economies dependent on fishing and tourism sectors.
To date, the vessel’s owner, LLC SMP Techmanagement, has not confirmed salvage efforts, whilst Maltese authorities continue to assess whether the vessel can be towed to port or must be scuttled in deep waters.