Libyan authorities have issued a renewed warning after the wreck of the LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz broke free and began drifting uncontrolled in the Mediterranean Sea.
According to the Libyan Ports and Maritime Transport Authority, the wreck’s towline snapped around midday on April 22, leaving the vessel adrift approximately 120 nautical miles north of Benghazi. Officials said adverse weather conditions caused the cable to fail during ongoing efforts to keep the damaged hull offshore.
Authorities warned that the wreck is now “completely out of control,” with tugboats currently unable to reconnect due to technical limitations.
The vessel has posed a persistent hazard since it was severely damaged by an explosion nearly two months ago. Since then, the wreck has repeatedly broken loose, drifting across the Mediterranean and at times approaching the coasts of southern Europe before currents pushed it back toward Libya.
Libya has been attempting to contain the situation by keeping the wreck offshore, away from critical oil and gas infrastructure within its exclusive economic zone. However, officials have repeatedly highlighted the need for more powerful tug support to maintain control.
Efforts to organize a full salvage operation have stalled. The National Oil Corporation previously said it was working to bring in an international salvage team in partnership with Eni, but EU sanctions on Russian energy shipping have complicated such efforts.
Additional risks stem from the vessel’s condition. Significant volumes of liquefied natural gas may still be trapped onboard, along with approximately 1,000 tonnes of fuel, creating both navigational and environmental hazards.
Legal uncertainty also persists. Libyan authorities are considering invoking international frameworks, including the Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention and the MARPOL Convention. At the same time, Russia, as the flag state, maintains that responsibility lies with the coastal state, while Libya insists that Moscow must formally declare the vessel abandoned.
Ships have been advised to keep a distance of at least five nautical miles from the drifting wreck and to report any changes in its position.
