In the Mediterranean, another operation to tow the maneuverable liquefied natural gas tanker “Arctic Metagaz” failed.
April 23, 2026, 10:53April 23, 2026, 10:54
During an attempted towing, a cable broke due to bad weather conditions on Wednesday, the Libyan Ports and Maritime Authority told the government in Tripoli. The Russian gas tanker is “completely out of control” and is drifting on the open sea north of the coastal city of Benghazi.
Because the tanker was carrying liquid gas and diesel, a leak or major damage could threaten an environmental catastrophe in the Mediterranean. Vessels in the area were asked to navigate the area with extreme caution and to maintain a distance of at least five nautical miles from the tanker. Anyone who notices a gas leak, smoke or a change in the ship’s buoyancy should report it immediately.
The “Arctic Metagaz” caught fire after explosions off the coast of Libya at the beginning of March. Russia accuses Ukraine of attacking the ship with water drones. Kyiv has not officially commented on the incident. The 30-man crew was rescued. The ship has been driverless since then. A towing operation had previously failed due to poor weather conditions. (sda/dpa)