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Crew Rescued After Fire Erupts on Sanctioned Gas Tanker
4 Mar
Summary
- Russian LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz caught fire in the Mediterranean Sea.
- Crew members were found safe in a lifeboat within Libyan waters.
- The vessel, subject to US and UK sanctions, may have been attacked.
A fire broke out on the Russian-flagged liquefied natural gas tanker Arctic Metagaz in the Mediterranean Sea. Maritime security sources reported the incident on Tuesday. The vessel, which is subject to U.S. and UK sanctions, was last tracked sailing off the coast of Malta on Monday.
Malta's armed forces confirmed receiving a distress message and locating the vessel. Critically, the entire crew was found safe aboard a lifeboat within Libya's search-and-rescue region. One source indicated the ship may have been targeted by a naval drone, with Ukraine being a suspected perpetrator, though no evidence was provided.
Officials from the vessel's manager, Novatek, and Russia's transport ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Similarly, the Security Service of Ukraine offered no immediate statement on the incident.
