The liquefied natural gas carrier Arctic Metagaz is currently "completely out of control at sea" in the Mediterranean after a towing attempt failed early on April 2 due to bad weather, as reported by Libya's Ports and M...
The liquefied natural gas carrier Arctic Metagaz is currently "completely out of control at sea" in the Mediterranean after a towing attempt failed early on April 2 due to bad weather, as reported by Libya's Ports and Maritime Transport Authority.
Before this, data from the Automatic Identification System (AIS) indicated that tug boats were returning to port, leaving the Arctic Metagaz adrift once again.
This unsuccessful towing operation has raised new safety and environmental worries in the central Mediterranean, and Libya is requesting international help. The ship had a significant explosion on March 3, reportedly due to a Ukrainian drone strike.
Libyan officials labeled the towing operation a "failure," citing winds of 40–50 knots and wave heights of up to five meters caused by a deep low-pressure system called Erminio.
“Due to the dangerous developments concerning the gas tanker Arctic Metagaz, all ships, maritime units, and relevant authorities are advised that the towing operation has failed,” the authority stated on April 2.
The last known location of the vessel was at latitude 33°50'N and longitude 16°43'E, which is near Malta's search and rescue (SAR) area. Maritime officials have warned all vessels to keep at least 10 nautical miles away and to report any signs of leakage, including gas emissions or smoke.
“As a result, the vessel is now adrift and uncontrollable, and the towing vessel cannot return or re-establish the towing operation due to these hazardous weather conditions,” the statement added.
Weather forecasts suggest that winds could push the stranded ship farther north, potentially into Malta’s SAR zone, which might trigger a larger regional response.
Libya is looking for international assistance to manage this growing issue. Mohamed Salem Scewy, chairman of the Libyan Ports & Maritime Transport Authority, noted that they have formally contacted both the International Maritime Organization and the European Union.
“This is not just a Libyan issue,” Scewy told TradeWinds. “It is a problem for all countries in the Mediterranean Sea.”
Despite these outreach efforts, Scewy mentioned that cooperation has been limited. “We need help or collaboration to control this motor tanker and prevent any pollution,” he stated, adding that EU representatives have mainly asked for the vessel's location and images.
He also refuted earlier reports about plans to offload fuel, explaining that no agreements have been made with salvage companies and that Libya does not have ports capable of accommodating a vessel of this size.