Damaged Russian LNG Carrier Drifts Toward Malta, Raising Environmental Alarms

VALLETTA — A fire-blackened Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, crippled by explosions last month, is drifting unmanned in the central Mediterranean, edging closer to Maltese waters and raising urgent environmental and safety concerns. Footage obtained by AFP on Sunday shows the 277-meter vessel listing heavily, its hull scarred by fire and pierced by two large holes.

The Arctic Metagaz has been adrift since March 3, when a series of blasts and a major fire struck the vessel off the coast of Libya. Russian authorities have accused Ukraine of conducting a drone strike on the ship, which was part of Moscow's so-called "shadow fleet" used to circumvent Western sanctions on energy exports. Ukraine has not publicly commented on the incident.

All 30 crew members were reportedly evacuated safely. However, the vessel's cargo—estimated by Libyan port authorities at roughly 62,000 metric tonnes of LNG bound for Egypt, along with 900 tonnes of diesel fuel—poses a severe ecological threat. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Italy has warned that a spill could trigger fires, create lethal cryogenic clouds, and cause "widespread and long-lasting pollution" in an area of "exceptional ecological value."

Malta and Italy are closely monitoring the wreck's slow drift. On Friday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni convened a crisis meeting with key ministers, pledging cooperation with Maltese authorities. Salvage experts are already positioned in Malta, and a specialist recovery vessel is en route, according to maritime sources.

The incident highlights the escalating risks associated with Russia's shadow fleet—older tankers operating outside standard insurance and safety protocols to transport sanctioned oil and gas. This vulnerable maritime network has become a focal point in the wider Ukraine conflict, with previous attacks reported in the Black Sea.

Voices from the Region

Captain Liam Borg, a retired Maltese merchant marine officer, expressed grave concern: "This is a ticking time bomb. The combination of LNG, diesel, and structural damage in a sensitive marine corridor requires extreme caution. The priority must be securing the vessel before it reaches shallow waters."

Dr. Sofia Conti, a marine biologist at the University of Malta, emphasized the environmental stakes: "The proposed drift path skirts marine protected areas teeming with biodiversity. A major leak here would be a catastrophe for Mediterranean ecosystems, with recovery measured in decades, not years."

Marko Jurić, a political analyst based in Zagreb, offered a sharper critique: "This is the direct consequence of a failed sanctions regime and hybrid warfare. The West sanctions the tanker, then acts surprised when it becomes a floating hazard. This wreck isn't just a ship; it's a symbol of the entire conflict's spillover into global waterways, and the utter lack of preparedness to deal with it."

Anya Petrova, an energy markets consultant in Sofia, noted the broader implications: "Beyond the immediate danger, this event will force EU navies and coast guards to dedicate more resources to policing these high-risk vessels. It's a costly secondary effect of the economic war on Russia."