Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) has brought in international emergency response experts to address the growing threat posed by the drifting LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz. The damaged vessel is expected to be towed to one of Libya’s ports as authorities move to contain the risk.
The incident began on March 3, when a powerful explosion and subsequent fire tore through the 277-meter gas carrier, which has a deadweight of 77,551 tons. While all crew members were safely rescued and taken to Libya, the vessel remained afloat and began drifting uncontrolled across the Mediterranean Sea.
Despite severe structural damage, including large breaches on both sides of the hull, the vessel has not sunk. Reports suggest that its double-hull design and the internal bulkheads of its cargo containment system helped prevent rapid flooding. For more than two weeks, the ship has drifted between waters near Malta and the Italian islands of Lampedusa and Linosa, at times crossing international maritime boundaries.
Italian authorities have described the ship as a “ticking time bomb” because of the continuing risk of another explosion. According to official estimates, the vessel is carrying around 450 metric tons of fuel oil, 250 tons of diesel, and an uncertain but potentially significant volume of LNG. It is believed that two of the ship’s four cargo tanks may still be intact, holding up to 60,000 cubic meters of LNG.
As concerns over a large-scale environmental disaster mounted, several EU member states called for a coordinated response. However, shifting currents and southerly winds later began pushing the vessel back toward Libya. Forecasts indicated that the drifting hull could approach the Libyan coastline within days.
Libyan maritime authorities have already warned of the danger to offshore infrastructure, including oil platforms. Tugboats have been placed on standby, and vessels in the area have been instructed to remain at least six nautical miles away from the drifting ship and report any visible changes in its condition.
Through its subsidiary Mellitah Oil & Gas, and in cooperation with its strategic partner Eni of Italy, Libya’s NOC said it had signed an emergency contract to tow the vessel to a Libyan port. The company stressed that the environmental threat can still be managed and that urgent action is being taken to limit pollution and reduce further risks.
At the same time, questions remain over legal responsibility for the vessel. Malta reportedly remained in contact with Russian representatives and the ship’s operator but received no clear recovery plan. Russia has argued that, under international law, responsibility lies with the state in whose waters the abandoned vessel is located.
The Arctic Metagaz incident has drawn wider attention because it comes amid rapid growth in LNG shipping and mounting geopolitical tensions around Russian energy exports. The 23-year-old vessel, reportedly linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, was carrying liquefied natural gas from Russia when the explosion occurred en route to Port Said. Russia’s Foreign Ministry claimed that the blast was caused by a Ukrainian drone strike.
Environmental experts say the incident should not be viewed as an isolated maritime accident. Instead, it highlights the broader risks linked to the global expansion of LNG supply chains. Russia is seeking new markets as the European Union moves toward a full ban on Russian gas imports from January 1, 2027, while Arctic gas production is expected to grow sharply in the coming decade.
That expansion is likely to drive a major increase in LNG tanker traffic, especially in vulnerable Arctic and Mediterranean waters. Today, roughly 30 LNG carriers transport Russian Arctic gas, but that number could rise dramatically by 2035. Analysts also point to the growing climate impact of LNG shipping, with methane emissions from LNG-fueled vessels already rising sharply in recent years.
LNG is a highly flammable and hazardous cargo that requires strict safety controls throughout production, transportation, and use. Cooled to minus 162°C, it becomes a cryogenic liquid that rapidly vaporizes when released, forming extremely cold methane vapor clouds. In the event of a spill, especially over water, LNG can create severe fire, explosion, and health hazards for crews, coastal communities, and marine ecosystems.
Recent risk-mapping studies have shown that the consequences of an LNG tanker accident can extend far beyond the ship itself. In confined waterways and near populated coastal zones, a single incident may threaten nearby communities, port infrastructure, and sensitive marine habitats over a very wide area.
The Arctic Metagaz case now stands as a stark warning for regulators and the maritime industry. As the International Maritime Organization prepares for key spring meetings on shipping decarbonization, legal liability, and marine environmental protection, this drifting LNG carrier has become a powerful reminder that the risks of LNG expansion reach well beyond commercial shipping — touching directly on safety, pollution, and climate policy.
