By Alvise Armellini ROME, March 20 (Reuters) - A damaged Russian LNG tanker that has been drifting unmanned in the Mediterranean for more than two weeks, risking a major ecological disaster, is four
Damaged Russian LNG Tanker Drifting Toward Libyan Shores Sparks EU Concerns
Russian LNG Tanker Incident in the Mediterranean
By Alvise Armellini
Background and Current Situation
ROME, March 20 (Reuters) - A damaged Russian LNG tanker that has been drifting unmanned in the Mediterranean for more than two weeks, risking a major ecological disaster, is four to six days from Libya’s shores, an Italian official said on Friday.
The Arctic Metagaz, carrying LNG from the Arctic port of Murmansk, has been unmanned since early March, when it was hit by Ukrainian naval drones, according to Russia's Transport Ministry.
Kyiv has not claimed responsibility for any such attack.
Location and Timeline
The tanker is currently in international waters falling under Libya's search and rescue zone, some 53 nautical miles (98 kilometres) north of the capital Tripoli, Italian Civil Protection agency spokesman Pierfrancesco Demilito said.
Based on prevailing southbound winds and sea currents - assuming they do not change - it could take "four, five or six days, more or less," for the vessel to reach Libyan land, Demilito said.
EU Concerns and Warnings
Major Ecological Threat
EU STATES WARN OF MAJOR ECOLOGICAL THREAT
Italy, France, Spain and six other southern EU members wrote last week to the European Commission warning that the Arctic Metagaz poses "an imminent and serious risk of a major ecological disaster."
Potential Environmental Impact
Demilito said the vessel is estimated to be carrying 450 metric tons of heavy oil and 250 tons of diesel as fuel supplies, and an "uncertain" quantity of LNG, which may have partly regasified and dispersed.
While it has a "large gash on its side" it does not appear to be at imminent risk of sinking, but the concern is that it may run aground or crash into an offshore oil platform, although none are currently nearby, the spokesman said.
Response and Monitoring Efforts
Any intervention on the tanker would fall to Libya, since the vessel is in its search and rescue waters, but Italy would be ready to help if asked, Demilito added, indicating that coast guard and navy units were also monitoring the situation.
There have been no direct contacts with Libyan authorities so far, he said.
(Reporting by Alvise Armellini, Editing by Louise Heavens)
