Italy warns drifting Russian LNG tanker could explode in Mediterranean at any time

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Rome: A sanctioned Russian tanker carrying liquid natural gas is drifting unmanned in the Mediterranean Sea, raising fears of a potential ecological disaster, European officials have warned.

The vessel, identified as the Arctic Metagaz, has been described by Italian authorities as an “environmental bomb” after sustaining severe damage in a suspected sea drone attack earlier this month near Malta.

Part of a so-called “shadow fleet” used to transport sanctioned Russian oil and gas, the tanker is now moving south from waters near Italy and the island of Lampedusa towards Libya, with authorities closely monitoring its trajectory.

Alfredo Mantovano, secretary of Italy’s Council of Ministers, warned the risks posed by the vessel were “enormous”, adding it could “explode at any moment”.

The tanker is believed to be carrying significant quantities of liquefied natural gas (LNG), along with around 450 tonnes of fuel oil and 250 tonnes of diesel, heightening concerns over a potential spill or explosion.

At one point on Tuesday, the vessel was reported to be about 45 nautical miles from Italian territorial waters and 25 miles from Libya’s search-and-rescue zone.

The Arctic Metagaz had departed from Murmansk in February before being struck by explosions and fire in early March. While Vladimir Putin blamed Ukraine for what he described as a “terrorist attack”, Kyiv has not commented on the incident.

Ukraine has previously indicated that vessels involved in transporting sanctioned Russian energy could be considered legitimate targets, as such trade is seen as funding Moscow’s war effort.

The tanker has remained adrift and without a crew since the incident, after those onboard were rescued by the Libyan coastguard.

Environmental groups, including World Wildlife Fund, have warned of a “serious risk” to marine ecosystems, noting that any spill or explosion could cause fires and long-term pollution in a region home to protected species and fragile habitats.

Nine European Union countries have reportedly urged the European Commission to take urgent action to prevent a potential disaster.