Summary:

On 23 March 2026, Italian media outlet Agenzia Nova reported that the Russian LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz, damaged in early March, is drifting approximately 35 nautical miles off the Libyan coast near Zuwara, posing a growing safety and environmental risk.  

The vessel, unmanned and unable to maneuver, has followed an irregular path from Malta’s waters westward toward Lampedusa and then south along the western Libyan coast, passing near the Sabratha and Bouri offshore platforms. Coast Guard sources previously estimated its position at roughly 48 nautical miles northeast of Zuwara, moving at about 1.1 knots under the influence of currents and wind. 

Libyan authorities including the Coast Guard and the National Oil Corporation (NOC) have deployed naval units and coordinated with energy operators to secure the vessel and prevent environmental risks. NOC, in collaboration with Eni via Mellitah Oil and Gas, signed an emergency contract with a specialized international company to manage the tanker and tow it to a safe port.  

The 277-meter vessel still carries approximately 62,000 tons of LNG and 900 tons of fuel, prompting concerns about a potential spill. Italy and Malta are monitoring the situation, including through aerial surveillance, while the area remains classified as high risk for navigation with transiting vessels advised to maintain a safe distance. 

Outlook: 

The Arctic Metagaz incident is likely to heighten caution among Libya’s partners exposed to Mediterranean energy supply chains, highlighting operational and geopolitical risks of Russian LNG shipments amid sanctions and regional instability.  

Libya’s deployment of naval units and coordination with NOC and international partners shows capacity to manage drifting vessels, but the tanker’s proximity to critical offshore platforms underscores the ongoing vulnerability of energy infrastructure to both accidental and deliberate disruptions.  

The incident may increase scrutiny of Russia’s “shadow fleet” and prompt European and North African actors to reassess maritime routing and emergency preparedness. 

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