Russian LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz adrift again

In the meantime, a video circulated on social media by the East Libyan Navy clearly shows the damage suffered by the Arctic Metagaz following a series of explosions, the origin of which has never been fully clarified.

The wreck of the Russian tanker remains adrift in calm sea conditions.

Yesterday it was located 70 miles northwest of Benghazi. 

In recent days, an investigation by Radio France International revealed the presence of over 200 Ukrainian military specialists in Libya speculating their alleged involvement in the attack on the Arctic Metagaz ship, which was allegedly hit by a maritime drone.

The Arctic Metagaz was abandoned by its crew after it was hit by a series of explosions on 3 March 2026 while carrying a cargo of liquefied natural gas from Russia to Egypt.

The operations to tow the ship began on 24 March, but on 3 April the Tripoli authority decreed that they would fail due to "difficult weather conditions", with winds "reaching 40 or 50 knots and waves five metres high". The warning to 'all ships, maritime units and relevant authorities' to stay away from the ship and to report any sightings of fire or smoke remains valid.

According to the Russian authorities, the Arctic Metagaz was still carrying approximately 700 tonnes of fuel and 'a significant amount of natural gas' at the time of its abandonment.

The Libyan National Oil Corporation (Noc) had said it would cooperate with the Italian group Eni to tow the damaged ship to the North African country's coast, but fears of an environmental disaster convinced the Libyan authorities to transport it far from the Libyan coast 'to reduce the risk of pollution for the Libyan shoreline'.

All crew members were rescued after the ship was hit and has since been adrift between Libya and Malta.

Moscow has accused Ukraine of trying to blow it up, an accusation that Kiev has not yet commented on.

La metaniera arriverà di fronte all’Egitto?

La direzione delle correnti nel Mediterraneo (azzurra circolazione superficiale, rossa intermedia, blu profonda)

INGVambiente

The unmanned Arctic Metagaz had drifted between the coasts of Malta and southern Sicily, then headed for Libya.