Rome, Itália — A Russian-flagged fuel tanker has been adrift in Mar Mediterrâneo, between Itália and Malta, for several days. The incident, allegedly a drone attack, raises a warning of imminent environmental disaster in the region.
Global maritime authorities have issued warnings, asking vessels to avoid the area. Imagens aerials show the tilted and charred hull of the “Arctic Metagas”, with a crack visible on the port side.
An oily film can already be seen on the sea surface around the ship, heightening fears of a spill. The incident provoked an urgent mobilization to mitigate the risks of contamination.
Ecological risks and maritime safety concerns
The “Arctic Metagas”, 277 meters long, carries around 900 tons of diesel oil and 60,000 tons of liquefied natural gas. Italian authorities, attentive to the situation, classify the ship as a “gas-filled time bomb”, given the volatile nature of its cargo and the potential dangers it represents.
The vessel’s uncontrollable drift towards Italian territorial waters is a major concern. A large fuel and gas leak could devastate sensitive marine ecosystems and negatively impact the Mediterrâneo coastal economy, requiring a rapid and effective response.
The geopolitical context and details of the attack
Ministério of Relações Exteriores of Rússia announced that the ship was “attacked by sea and air drones” on June 3, in international waters southeast of The “Arctic
Rescue and charges over the incident
The ship’s 30 crew members, some with burns, managed to escape in lifeboats and were rescued by the Libyan coast guard, being taken to Benghazi. Rússia described the incident as a “terrorist act” and its Ministério of Transportes attributed the attack to the Ukrainian navy, which, to date, has not publicly commented on the accusations.