The sanctioned LNG tanker “Arctic Metagaz” has been attacked in the Mediterranean, causing explosions and fires. The ship has since sunk.
The “Arctic Metagaz”, a tanker of the Russian shadow fleet, was between Malta and Libya when several explosions and a strong fire broke out on board. The exact cause of the incident is currently unknown. The explosion was powerful enough to punch a hole almost 40 meters long in the tanker’s hull. The damage can be clearly seen on an aerial photograph taken by the Turkish Navy (see above).
According to consistent reports, the crew was rescued; Maltese authorities reported finding the 30 Russian seamen unharmed in a lifeboat.
The LNG tanker is 277 meters long, 43 meters wide and sails under the Russian flag. Built in 2003, the ship is associated with the sanctioned Arctic LNG-2 project and left the port of Murmansk on February 24, bound for Port Said in Egypt. According to Libyan officials, the ship was carrying around 62,000 tons of liquefied gas at the time of the accident. They are warning ships in the region to avoid the area and report any pollution.
The Russian Ministry of Transport claims that the attack was carried out by unmanned maritime drones. It condemned the strike as an “act of international terrorism and maritime piracy”. According to international regulations, the LNG being transported had been released. President Putin considers the Ukrainian government to be responsible for the attack. Ukrainian authorities declined to comment on the matter, while Libyan authorities say the cause of the fire remains unclear.
