A Russian tanker wrecked in an alleged Ukrainian attack is floating in the Mediterranean and could cause an ‘unprecedented environmental disaster’.
With no crew on board and a gaping hole in one side, the Arctic Metagaz, a shadow fleet vessel reportedly carrying 61,000 tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and 700 tonnes of diesel fuel, is adrift at sea following the alleged drone strike two weeks ago.
The ship is believed to be part of Putin’s shadow fleet – a network of vessels sailing without a valid national flag used to circumvent sanctions on Russia.
It is drifting towards Malta away from Italian waters following the attack, which Moscow claims took place off the coast of Libya as it was carrying LNG from the port of Murmansk.
Italian officials have warned the tanker could ‘explode at any moment’ causing ‘enormous’ consequences.
In a letter to the European Commission, EU states warned: ‘The precarious condition of the vessel, combined with the nature of its specialised cargo, gives rise to an imminent and serious risk of a major ecological disaster in the heart of the Union’s maritime space.’
Officials in Malta have warned the environmental damage caused by the ship could leave their taps to ‘run dry’.
‘The ecological implications are disastrous,’ centrist political party Momentum said.
The Arctic Metagaz is adrift at sea following an alleged Ukrainian drone strike two weeks ago
The vessel, which is carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) and is sanctioned by the US and UK, was hit two weeks ago near Malta
‘Malta ranks among the top 10 countries globally for water scarcity, depending almost entirely on desalination plants for drinking water. Any pollution of the surrounding sea resulting from a maritime attack or sunken vessel would mean our taps run dry.
‘It would be a national disaster of unprecedented proportions.’
Maltese MEP Thomas Bajada also said he feared ‘serious consequences’.
‘Any marine pollution incident in proximity to these (seawater desalination) installations could have serious consequences for water security and for the functioning of essential national infrastructure.’
When the tanker went up in flames in early March, Vladimir Putin blamed Ukraine – although it has not claimed responsibility.
Libyan port officials initially claimed it had sunk, but it has been floating, unmanned since.
Footage in the aftermath of the attack showed the vessel ablaze, with large flames rising and clouds of smoke billowing into the sky.
Moscow says it is in touch with the vessel’s owner, Russia-based LLC SMP Techmanagement, and foreign ‘competent bodies’.
‘The international legal norms applicable to the current situation imply the responsibility of coastal countries… for resolving the situation with the drifting vessel and preventing an environmental disaster,’ Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry, said.
‘Further involvement by the shipowner and Russia as the flag state will depend on the specific circumstances.’
Other Russian shadow ships have brazenly cruised through Europe, including the English Channel, with defence experts warning there could be a military confrontation near Britain’s shores as soon as this year.
Italian officials have warned the tanker could ‘explode at any moment’ causing ‘enormous’ consequences
Often described as a ‘clandestine’ network, Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ are in fact hiding in plain sight as they ferry millions of barrels of oil through the world’s busiest shipping route in defiance of Western sanctions, embargoes and price caps.
Dozens of these ships pass through the Dover Strait every month, part of a ‘shadow fleet’ of up to 800 vessels that continue to fuel Putin’s four-year war on Ukraine.
Last month, the UK Government announced its biggest sanctions package against Russia in a bid to cut off critical oil revenues and degrade the Kremlin’s ability to wage its illegal war.
Experts say over 60 per cent of Russian crude is being exported on the shadow fleet – but the Ministry of Defence insists that ‘deterring, disrupting and degrading the Russian shadow fleet is a priority’.
Security experts have warned that escalating tensions could lead to clashes at sea, right on the doorstep of Britain’s shores.
Professor Michael Clarke, a defence analyst, told Sky News: ‘There must come a point at which Britain and its allies – the Dutch, Danes, and Norwegians and the sea-going nations of Northern Europe – they together will get much tougher with these Russian ships, even if they’re escorted.
‘When that happens, we’re heading probably sometime this year for some sort of militarised confrontation at sea possibly in the Channel or the North Sea, somewhere certainly near to British coast.’