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Damaged Russian Lng Tanker Breaks Loose From Tow Off Libya
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 2, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 2, 2026
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A heavily damaged Russian LNG tanker, the Arctic Metagaz, broke free from Libyan tug during a storm and is now adrift off Tripoli’s west coast, raising fears of a serious ecological disaster amid its uncrewed drift and hazardous cargo.
Damaged Russian LNG Tanker Breaks Loose from Tow in Mediterranean Storm
Incident Overview and Ongoing Maritime Risks
Details of the Tanker Incident
TRIPOLI, April 2 (Reuters) - A Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker damaged in a suspected Ukrainian attack in the Mediterranean broke loose in a storm while being towed by a Libyan tugboat on Thursday, Libya's Ports and Maritime Transport Authority said.
Official Statement from Maritime Authorities
"The tanker is out of control, and the tugboat is unable to return to re-tie it under these hazardous weather conditions," the authority said in a navigational warning letter.
Failed Towing Operation
The towing operation - to keep the ship away from coastal towns west of the capital, Tripoli - failed due to severe weather conditions, the Tripoli-based authority said.
Safety Warnings and Navigational Advice
It requested all ships and naval vessels avoid the area and advised them to stay at least 10 nautical miles away from the Russian-flagged Arctic Metagaz.
Background and Broader Implications
Origin and Circumstances of the Tanker Damage
The tanker is carrying LNG from Russia's Arctic port of Murmansk and has been adrift since early March, when Russia's Transport Ministry said it was hit by Ukrainian naval drones launched from Libya.
Lack of Official Comments
Neither Ukraine nor Libya have commented on the incident.
Environmental and Regional Concerns
Italy, France, Spain and six other southern EU members wrote to the European Commission in March warning the tanker posed "an imminent and serious risk of a major ecological disaster".
Response Efforts
Libya's coast guard began towing the abandoned tanker last week.
(Reporting by Ahmed Elumami; editing by Jason Neely)
Key Takeaways
- •The Arctic Metagaz, already adrift since early March following a suspected Ukrainian drone strike, broke loose amid a storm and is now drifting uncontrollably off Libya’s coast under hazardous conditions. (apnews.com)
- •The uncrewed tanker is considered part of Russia’s 'shadow fleet', carrying large quantities of liquefied natural gas (up to ~62,000 tons) along with fuel oil and diesel; EU states earlier warned it posed an 'imminent and serious risk' of major ecological disaster. (gosships.com)
- •Libya’s Ports and Maritime Transport Authority has issued navigational warnings urging ships to stay at least 10 nautical miles away; previous towing attempts with international support failed due to worsening weather, amid mounting concerns over environmental damage. (apnews.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Damaged Russian LNG tanker breaks loose from tow off Libya
1Why did the Russian LNG tanker break loose off the coast of Libya?
The tanker broke loose due to severe weather conditions while being towed by a Libyan tugboat, making it impossible to keep it under control.
2What caused the damage to the Russian LNG tanker?
The damage was reportedly caused by Ukrainian naval drones launched from Libya, according to Russia's Transport Ministry.
3What is the current status of the LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz?
The Arctic Metagaz is adrift in the Mediterranean and authorities have warned ships to avoid the area.
4Has there been any comment from Ukraine or Libya regarding the incident?
Neither Ukraine nor Libya have commented on the incident as of the latest reports.
5What ecological risks does the drifting tanker pose?
Southern EU members warned the European Commission that the tanker poses an imminent and serious risk of a major ecological disaster.
