Libyan officials said they have officially controlled the Russian LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz after weeks drifting in the Mediterranean, marking an important turning point in efforts to prevent a potential environmental disaster.
According to the Libyan Ministry of Defense, functional forces boarded the ship, fixed the ship to the tugboat and began moving away from the coast. Previously, Arctic Metagaz almost became a "ghost ship", drifting through many search and rescue areas that no country received for handling.
The ship named Arctic Metagaz was heavily damaged after the attack on March 3 while transporting LNG from Russia to Egypt. All 30 sailors left the ship, leaving the ship adrift at sea in an uncontrolled state, with the risk of exploding at any time.
According to information from Russia, the ship carries about 800 tons of fuel, while the Libyan port authority said that the ship carries up to 62,000 tons of LNG intended to be delivered to Egypt.
Faced with the critical situation, Libya has officially hired a professional rescue company to control the ship. The goal is to stabilize the ship and tow it back to port safely before a serious incident occurs.
The Libyan National Oil Corporation said it has activated a 24/7 operational coordination center, coordinating with international partners such as Eni to monitor and handle situations.
Although it has been controlled, the ship's condition still worries officials. According to initial assessments, the ship may have severe structural damage, of which only 2/4 LNG tanks are likely intact.
The remaining gas on board has not been clearly identified, increasing the risk of leakage or even secondary explosions if conditions are not tightly controlled.
Not only that, because the ship carries hundreds of tons of fuel oil and diesel, if the hull continues to degrade, the risk of oil spills into the sea is entirely possible, threatening the coastal ecosystem and economic activities.
Libya's emergency response teams are now in a state of readiness, with pollution control equipment deployed to respond to the worst-case scenario.
Previously, European officials warned that Arctic Metagaz was a serious threat as the ship drifted near offshore energy facilities and coastal areas.
The incident is believed to have originated from a drone attack, causing the ship to be heavily damaged and abandoned in the sea. Russia called it "terrorist act", while Ukraine has not confirmed involvement.
The Libyan National Defense and Security Committee of the Libyan House of Representatives strongly spoke out about the Russian LNG tanker being attacked and drifting near the city of Zuwara, considering this not only an environmental hazard but also a "blatant violation of national security".
In an official statement, the Libyan National Security and Defense Commission emphasized that the protection of sovereignty over sea and airspace is a "red line", and all unlicensed military activities are considered violations of international law.
This agency condemned the attack on a civilian ship, saying that this is an act of "sea terrorism", directly threatening international maritime safety and potentially setting a dangerous precedent for trade in the Mediterranean.
