A Russian liquefied natural gas tanker sank in the Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday evening after a series of explosions and a large fire, authorities in Libya said on Wednesday.
The 277-metre vessel, Arctic Metagas, was carrying about 62,000 metric tonnes of liquefied natural gas when it went down roughly 130 nautical miles north of the coastal city of Sirte. The incident occurred in waters between Libya and Malta.
Libya’s Ports and Maritime Transport Authority said the wreck lies within Libya’s search and rescue zone. After receiving a distress alert, Libyan authorities coordinated with Maltese officials to rescue all 30 crew members on board. No serious injuries were reported. The cause of the explosions that triggered the fire has not yet been established.
The incident comes months after another Russian tanker was reportedly attacked by drones off the Libyan coast in December. Ukraine later claimed responsibility for that strike, describing the vessel as part of what it called Russia’s “shadow fleet”.
