Malta’s transport authority confirmed on Tuesday that the liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker Arctic Metagaz is drifting in the Mediterranean, countering earlier reports from Libya suggesting the vessel had sunk after an explosion on March 3. The Ports and Yachting Directorate issued a notice to mariners, stating the tanker is “not under command” and located approximately 37 nautical miles south of Malta at coordinates 35º24’.000 N and 14º27’.000 E. Consequently, vessels are advised to maintain a five-nautical-mile distance and are prohibited from navigating near the tanker.
The confirmation that the Arctic Metagaz remains afloat comes as daily survey flights from the Malta Armed Forces continue to monitor the situation. The latest flight data corroborates the tanker’s coordinates, indicating it has been drifting westward since the incident. In response to this potential risk, Maltese authorities are preparing contingency plans to address the possibility of the vessel entering their territorial waters. Officials have contacted the tanker’s owner, although there are no updates regarding possible salvage operations.
Prime Minister Robert Abela reassured that Malta is prepared to act if the tanker approaches territorial waters, highlighting the ongoing risks associated with the drift. Current assessments show the vessel listing to starboard with significant fire damage, while a five-nautical-mile quarantine zone has been established due to concerns about potential volatile cargo remaining on board. Experts suggest that while the structural integrity of the Arctic Metagaz may prevent it from sinking immediately, its future remains uncertain.
The vessel, part of Russia’s shadow fleet for the Arctic LNG 2 project, suffered considerable damage after allegedly being attacked, which the Russian government labeled as an act of international terrorism. Ukrainian officials have yet to comment, while the crew was rescued by a passing tanker, ensuring their safety amidst the crisis.
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