Russian oil tanker adrift near Linosa, what we know so far
At the moment, it is not yet clear what its fate will be, but one hypothesis is that it may be induced to sink
Key points
A Russian oil tanker, a 'shadow ship', has been wandering unmanned for days, drifting in the Mediterranean Sea at present in Maltese waters, possibly struck by a Ukrainian 'electronic barge'. A situation that is now also starting to worry Italia, so much so that on Friday 13 March a summit meeting was held at Palazzo Chigi on the ship 'Arctic Metaga', loaded with 900 tonnes of diesel and liquefied gas tanks.
The hypothesis: hit on 3 March by a Ukrainian drone
The Russian-flagged ship has a gash on its port side and - according to Russian sources - was allegedly hit near Malta on 3 March by a Ukrainian surface hydrographic drone, i.e. an independent unmanned craft. The drone may have originated from Africa. No comment from the Ukrainian side. Departing from the Russian port of Murmansk, it was en route to the Egyptian port of Port Said before being hit.
Damage
As a result of the attack, a large leak opened up and two of the four liquid natural gas tanks were reportedly destroyed while the other two appeared to be intact. The rest of the ship was burnt by fire while the crew, the thirty men who were on board, had long since abandoned the vessel and were taken to Benghazi.
The latest survey
In the last few hours the ship has moved a few miles away from Linosa, in an easterly direction, and the currents continue to push it towards Malta.
What could happen
At the moment it is not yet clear what its fate will be, but one hypothesis is that it may be caused to sink. All this while waiting for the ship owner to get in touch with the company responsible for salvaging the wreck.
