Ticking Bomb: Unguided Russian Gas Tanker Discovered In The Mediterranean Sea
- 14.03.2026, 9:07
Italy does not want to allow the ship into its ports.
Italian authorities are discussing what to do with a Russian liquefied natural gas tanker that was damaged after a drone attack and is now drifting in the Mediterranean Sea between Italy and Malta. According to Reuters, citing knowledgeable sources, the Arctic Metagaz vessel was effectively out of control after the incident. One of the agency's interlocutors described the tanker as a "ticking bomb filled with gas."
According to Reuters, Italy does not want to allow the vessel into its ports. It is now in international waters about 30 nautical miles off the Italian island of Linosa. The tanker is being monitored by naval forces and a tugboat and a specialized environmental response vessel are close by. "The situation is under control," said Lampedusa Mayor Filippo Mannino, whose administrative jurisdiction includes the island of Linosa.
The Russian Transport Ministry said earlier that the tanker, carrying LNG from Murmansk, had been attacked by Ukrainian maritime drones that Moscow claimed were launched from the Libyan coast. Kiev has not claimed responsibility for the incident.
Photos circulated after the incident show a large breach on the port side above the waterline. The stern is noticeably more submerged than the rest of the hull, Reuters noted.
According to the agency's sources, about 30 crew members were evacuated from the tanker after the attack. It is still unclear how much liquefied natural gas and fuel remains on board. Arctic Metagaz's management company is Russia's SMP Tech Management. One of the possible options to resolve the situation is considered the involvement of a specialized company that could tow the vessel to a safe place.
The Malta Transport Authority has warned other vessels to stay at least five nautical miles away from the tanker. Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela said the government was ready to take action if necessary, but did not go into details.