Italian authorities have raised urgent concerns over a sanctioned Russian tanker carrying liquefied natural gas that is drifting uncontrollably in the Mediterranean Sea, warning it could explode at any moment and cause a major ecological disaster.
The vessel, Arctic Metagaz, part of a so-called shadow fleet used to transport sanctioned Russian oil and gas, was severely damaged earlier this month in a suspected sea drone attack near Maltese waters. The tanker was left with a large hole in its side and is currently unmanned, heightening fears over its stability and safety.
Italy, alongside eight other European Union countries, has written to the European Commission urging immediate action, describing the vessel as a serious environmental threat. An Italian official characterised the tanker as an “environmental bomb” waiting to detonate.
Speaking on Italy’s Radio 24, Secretary of the Council of Ministers, Alfredo Mantovano, warned that the risks associated with the drifting tanker were “enormous,” adding that it could “explode at any moment.”
The tanker is reported to be carrying significant quantities of liquefied natural gas (LNG), in addition to about 450 tonnes of fuel oil and 250 tonnes of diesel, compounding the potential impact of any explosion or spill.
Currently drifting southwards away from Italian waters and the island of Lampedusa towards Libya, the vessel remains under close monitoring by Italian and Maltese authorities. As of Tuesday afternoon, it was about 45 nautical miles from Italian territorial waters and 25 miles from Libya’s designated search-and-rescue zone.
The Arctic Metagaz had departed from the Russian port of Murmansk in February before suffering a series of explosions and fire in early March. Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed Ukraine for what he called a “terrorist attack,” although Kyiv has not commented on the allegation.
Ukraine has, however, consistently maintained that such “shadow fleet” vessels are legitimate targets, arguing they operate with transponders turned off to evade Western sanctions and generate revenue that supports Russia’s ongoing war effort. Moscow has, in turn, continued its bombardment of Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure since the start of its full-scale invasion.
The incident comes amid a reported increase in drone strikes targeting Russian tankers. In December, Ukraine’s SBU intelligence service claimed responsibility for damaging three vessels in the Black Sea within two weeks, including the Dashan, which it said sustained critical damage. Shortly after, the Quendil oil tanker was also hit in the Mediterranean, although it was reportedly empty at the time.
It has now been two weeks since the Arctic Metagaz was critically damaged. While initial reports from Libyan port officials suggested the tanker had sunk, it has remained afloat, drifting and posing continued risks without any crew on board. The crew had earlier been rescued by the Libyan coastguard following the incident.
Environmental groups, including World Wildlife Fund, have placed the situation on “maximum alert,” warning that any potential spill or explosion could lead to fires and long-lasting pollution in a region described as having “exceptional ecological value,” home to numerous protected marine species.
Erizia Rubyjeana
