Damaged Russian Oil Tanker Arctic Metagaz Towed to Libya Following Alleged Attack Outside Malta Search Zone

Libyan NOC coordinates the towing of the damaged Arctic Metagaz oil tanker to Zuwara, ending environmental fears for the Maltese islands.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 24, 2026, 11:49 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Lovin Malta

Coordinated Maritime Rescue for Stricken Russian Vessel

The Arctic Metagaz, a Russian oil tanker heavily damaged in a maritime strike earlier this month, has officially begun its transit to Libya. The towing operation is being managed by the Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC) in coordination with the country’s coast guard and maritime rescue centers. Reports indicate the vessel is being directed toward a secure zone near Zuwara, located in close proximity to the Tunisian border. This strategic move follows weeks of uncertainty regarding the vessel's stability and its potential impact on Mediterranean shipping lanes after it was neutralized outside the Maltese search and rescue area.

Origins of the Attack and Subsequent Damage

The tanker’s current predicament stems from a series of violent explosions reported on March 3, 2023. Russian authorities have characterized the incident as a deliberate Ukrainian attack, though Ukraine has notably refrained from claiming official responsibility for the strike. The resulting damage left the Arctic Metagaz drifting and vulnerable, raising immediate alarms across regional maritime authorities. The vessel’s inability to maintain its own power or course necessitated a large-scale international monitoring effort to prevent a total loss at sea or a significant spill of its hazardous cargo.

Environmental Relief for the Maltese Islands

The presence of the damaged tanker initially triggered severe anxiety within the Maltese government and environmental agencies. There were significant fears that the vessel could drift toward the Maltese archipelago, posing an imminent threat to the islands’ marine biodiversity and coastal safety. These concerns were particularly acute given the tanker’s cargo and the potential for structural failure following the reported explosions. However, the situation stabilized on March 18 when the tanker began a natural drift away from Malta and toward the North African coast, allowing Libyan authorities to take over the primary response.