The oil tanker named Arctic Metagaz is believed to have been attacked by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in early March, causing a large hole in the hull. The crew was rescued by the Libyan Coast Guard, while initially many believed the ship had sunk.
However, the ship is actually still floating and is currently drifting uncontrollably, without a crew, carrying a large amount of fuel and gas.
Italian officials warned that the level of risk is extremely serious. Mr. Alfredo Mantovan, a member of the Italian Council of Ministers, described the ship as an "environmental bomb" that could explode at any time.
According to him, the ship is said to be carrying a large amount of liquefied natural gas (LNG), along with about 450 tons of fuel oil and 250 tons of diesel.
In conditions where the hull has been destroyed, just a small collision, heat fluctuations or sparks can trigger an explosion, leading to unpredictable consequences.
Russia accused Ukraine of being behind the attack, calling it an act of terrorism. However, the Ukrainian side has not yet issued an official response.
Previously, Kiev had repeatedly targeted ships belonging to the Russian "dark fleet" of oil tankers - ships that often turn off identification devices to evade international sanctions.
At the end of 2025, Ukrainian intelligence said it had attacked 3 Russian ships in just 2 weeks in the Black Sea, showing a trend of expanding tactics beyond the traditional zone.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said it is putting the region on "maximum alert" to the risk of oil spills.
According to environmental experts, if a leak or explosion occurs, the fuel on board can cause serious pollution, threatening marine ecosystems and protected species in areas with "special ecological values".
The Mediterranean is inherently a closed sea area, with limited self-cleaning capacity, so any oil spill incident can last for many years, causing great damage to the fisheries and tourism industries.
Currently, the specific plan to handle the drifting ship is unclear. Access and rescue are facing many difficulties due to the risk of explosion and complex technical conditions.
Italian officials and international agencies are closely monitoring the situation, while pressure to act quickly is increasing.
