MOSCOW: Damaged Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker Arctic Metagaz has broken loose from its tow and is drifting in the Mediterrane...
MOSCOW: Damaged Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker Arctic Metagaz has broken loose from its tow and is drifting in the Mediterranean Sea, Libya's Ports and Maritime Transport Authority said.
It is impossible to predict which way the gas carrier will drift, Khaled Ghulam, official representative of the Libyan Emergency Committee dealing with the incident, told TASS.
TASS has compiled the key facts about the situation.
Arctic Metagaz adrift
- The tow broke at 4:00 a.m. on April 2, Libya's Ports and Maritime Transport Authority said.
- The tanker "is out of control, and the tugboat is unable to return to re-tie it under these hazardous weather conditions," it said.
- Officials in charge have reported the coordinates where the gas carrier is drifting and urged ships to keep their distance.
- The cable connecting Arctic Metagaz to the tugboat snapped due to inclement weather, Ghulam told TASS.
- According to him, the Libyan authorities have used all available resources to contain the situation with the tanker.
- It is impossible to predict which direction Arctic Metagaz will drift further, a committee official told TASS.
- Libya calls on the Mediterranean countries to take measures to bring the drifting tanker under control, the official said.
Previous difficulties with towing
- On March 21, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) said that Arctic Metagaz, damaged in an attack off the coast of Libya, will be towed to a Libyan port.
- Egyptian tugboat Mardave, working on behalf of the NOC, was towing the Russian gas carrier, Ghulam told TASS on March 30.
- According to him, at that moment the ship was about 62 nautical miles from the coast of the country.
- He noted that in recent days the operation has been facing difficulties due to adverse weather conditions.
- A tow rope ruptured two days ago as well, slowing the tug process.
About the attack
- On March 3, the Russian Transport Ministry said Arctic Metagaz was attacked in the Mediterranean Sea by unmanned Ukrainian boats.
- The incident occurred in the immediate vicinity of the territorial waters of Malta.
- The gas carrier loaded with 100,000 cubic meters of liquefied natural gas lost power and power supply, as a fire and gas explosion ripped through the ship, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
- All 30 crew members of the gas carrier escaped, two sailors were injured.
- The crew of the Arctic Metagaz drifted on a lifeboat for 15 hours after the attack, the ship's captain, Andrey Zelensky, told reporters.
- According to him, the rescue services of Russia, Malta and Libya provided assistance.
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