Libya Intervenes to Tow Abandoned Russian LNG Tanker Following European Environmental Warnings

Libyan authorities have begun moving the abandoned Arctic Metagaz tanker away from Zuwara after EU nations warned of a serious environmental risk in the Mediterranean.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 25, 2026, 11:01 AM EDT

Source: Reuters

Emergency Response Near the Port of Zuwara

The Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) confirmed on Wednesday that its maritime forces successfully intercepted the Arctic Metagaz. The Russian-flagged vessel had drifted dangerously close to the shores of Zuwara and Sabratha, two critical coastal hubs in western Libya. Video footage released by the GNU's media wing showed a naval frigate utilizing heavy-duty towing equipment to guide the massive, abandoned tanker through Mediterranean waters. Omar Mohamed Omar Al-Tuwair, a senior commander within the coast guard and ports security division, assured the public that authorities are working around the clock to mitigate the threat posed by the vessel.

European Union Voices Disaster Concerns

The intervention follows intense pressure from several European Union member states. Last week, a coalition including Italy, France, and Spain—along with six other southern EU nations—formally petitioned the European Commission to act. The group warned that the Arctic Metagaz represented an "imminent and serious risk" to the Mediterranean ecosystem. An LNG spill or explosion from a vessel of this size could have devastating consequences for maritime life, tourism, and the desalination plants that many Mediterranean coastal communities rely upon for fresh water.

Origins of the Crisis and Military Allegations

The tanker’s journey into catastrophe began in early March. Originally carrying a high-value cargo of LNG from the Russian Arctic port of Murmansk, the ship was reportedly disabled by Ukrainian naval drones. While the Russian Transport Ministry alleged that these drones were launched from Libyan territory, neither the Ukrainian government nor the Libyan GNU has officially addressed these claims. The strike left the vessel without functional propulsion or a crew, turning the high-tech energy carrier into a ghost ship at the mercy of Mediterranean currents.