Russian 'shadow fleet' gas tanker adrift in Mediterranean poses 'imminent' threat
The wreck of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier Arctic Metagaz is adrift between Malta and Lampedusa. (AFP: Miguela Xuereb/Newsbook Malta)
In short:
A sanctioned Russian natural gas tanker is adrift off the Maltese coast and European nations say it represents an environmental threat.
Italy, France and seven other nations told the European Commission the precarious condition of the Arctic Metagaz could cause a major ecological disaster in the heart of the EU's maritime space.
What's next?
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said officials were in touch with the vessel's owner and Russian involvement would depend on "specific circumstances".
Italy, France and seven other nations have told the European Commission a Russian liquefied natural gas tanker adrift in the Mediterranean represents an ecological threat, urging swift action.
Russia's Foreign Ministry acknowledged the vessel was adrift in the Mediterranean and said its further involvement in resolving the situation depended on "specific circumstances".
Loading...The letter from EU states to the European Commission said the Arctic Metagaz was drifting in waters between Malta and Italy.
The ship's state posed a "dual challenge" — upholding maritime safety and preventing an ecological disaster against the background of EU sanctions imposed on Russia.
The EU says the vessel is part of Russia's "shadow fleet". (AFP: Miguela Xuereb/Newsbook Malta)
"The precarious condition of the vessel, combined with the nature of its specialised cargo, gives rise to an imminent and serious risk of a major ecological disaster in the heart of the Union's maritime space,"the letter said.
The LNG tanker caught fire on March 3, with Russia claiming a Ukrainian naval drone strike was responsible. (AFP: Miguela Xuereb/Newsbook Malta)
The EU said the vessel was part of Russia's "shadow fleet" intended to circumvent sanctions imposed in connection with Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Action to resolve the situation, including surveillance, monitoring and other technical support, risked "undermining the integrity, effectiveness and the deterrent value of the EU sanctions regime".
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow was in touch with the vessel's owner and foreign "competent bodies".
It had no crew, she said, and was carrying 700 metric tons of different types of fuel and "a substantial amount of natural gas".
Libya's maritime agency says the vessel caught fire. (AFP: Miguela Xuereb/Newsbook Malta)
"The international legal norms applicable to the current situation imply the responsibility of coastal countries … for resolving the situation with the drifting vessel and preventing an environmental disaster," Ms Zakharova wrote.
"Further involvement by the shipowner and Russia as the flag state will depend on the specific circumstances."
Kyiv has not claimed responsibility for any attack on the ship. (AFP: Miguela Xuereb/Newsbook Malta)
Russia's Transport Ministry earlier this month said the Arctic Metagaz, carrying LNG from the Arctic port of Murmansk, was attacked by Ukrainian naval drones and said the weapons had been launched from the Libyan coast.
Libya's maritime agency reported on March 4 that the vessel was crippled in waters between Libya and Malta after catching fire a day earlier.
Kyiv has not claimed responsibility for any such attack.
Reuters