Oil tanker adrift, Mediterranean leaders call for EU civil protection intervention

In addition to the Spanish government, three EU government officials confirmed the contents of the letter. The three officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly.

The five leaders called for a coordinated EU response to mobilise resources quickly, citing the damaged condition of the LNG carrier. "The precarious condition of the ship, combined with the nature of its specialised cargo, poses an imminent and serious risk of a major ecological disaster in the heart of the Union's maritime space," they wrote in the letter.

All crew members survived, but the damaged tanker, carrying LNG and other fuels, now drifts unmanned and with an explosive fuel load, reportedly 700 tonnes.

In their letter, the five leaders highlighted the wider risks posed by ships operating outside international standards, warning of threats to maritime safety and the environment across the Mediterranean.

The leaders said they intended to raise these issues at this week's European Council meeting (19-20 March), expressing willingness to work with the Commission to ensure "a swift, European-led resolution"

Libya raises alert for Russian LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz adrift in the Mediterranean

The Libyan authorities issued a maritime warning and raised the alert level after detecting the approach of the abandoned Russian LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz drifting, raising concerns about a potential threat to safety and the environment.

The liquefied natural gas transport ship with a capacity of around 62,000 tonnes - plus the risk of the fuel on board - had already alarmed Italia when it approached Lampedusa, then Malta, and is now heading for Libya, 'completely abandoned, with no crew on board, and showing severe structural imbalance and a total loss of navigational control'.

Libya has issued a navigation warning for all vessels operating in the area between latitudes 34°00 and 35°30 north, urging caution.

The notice strictly forbids any vessel to approach the tanker at adistance of less than six nautical miles. The authorities stressed that the abandoned ship poses serious risks, including the possibility of asudden explosion, a gas leak or structural failure due to its instability.

As a precautionary measure, the National Oil Corporation (Noc ) has been instructed to place offshore platforms, particularly in the Bouri and Al-Jurf fields, on high alert.

Operators were advised to prepare emergency towing units in case the tanker drifted within 10 nautical miles of critical infrastructure.

The authorities emphasised that the situation requires continuous monitoring, given the potential risks to maritime shipping, power plants and the surrounding marine environment

All ships in the area were advised to immediately report any changes in the condition of the LNG carrier, including smoke, leaks or structural deterioration, to ensure prompt action and prevent a possible disaster.

Russia considers the attack on its Arctic Metagaz ship in the Mediterranean Sea an international terrorist attack, said Nikolai Patrushev, Russian presidential advisor and chairman of the Russian Maritime Council.

"The attack on the Russian liquefied natural gas tanker Arctic Metagaz in the Mediterranean Sea has become a glaring case, which we consider an international terrorist attack," Patrushev said in an interview with the Russian business daily Kommersant.