The sanctioned Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier Arctic Metagaz has sunk in the central Mediterranean following reported explosions and a subsequent fire, according to Libyan port authorities and statements from Moscow, though the exact cause remains contested.
Footage circulating online allegedly shows the 138,028 cbm vessel ablaze before it went down roughly 130 nautical miles north of Sirte. A Malta–Libya rescue coordination effort located the crew alive after they abandoned ship. Maltese authorities said all 30 Russian nationals were found safe in a lifeboat.
Russia’s Ministry of Transport claimed the incident was an attack by uncrewed sea drones launched from the Libyan coast, condemning it as “international terrorism and maritime piracy” and stating the cargo was LNG permitted under international rules. President Vladimir Putin described the incident on state television as a terrorist act, blaming Kyiv. Ukrainian officials declined to comment, while Libyan authorities said the cause of the fire remained unclear.
Arctic Metagaz is linked to the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project. Reports say the vessel loaded LNG at the floating storage unit Saam and departed Murmansk on 24 February. Tracking data indicate it entered the Mediterranean and its AIS signal disappeared about 30 nautical miles off Malta shortly before the incident.
Libyan officials said the ship was carrying around 62,000 tonnes of LNG and warned passing vessels to avoid the area and report any signs of pollution.
Splash has also reported a series of other explosions in the Mediterranean over the past year, mostly involving crude oil tankers, with some reports alleging the use of drones and limpet mines and linking certain incidents to Ukrainian special units.
