News
Libya Hires Firm to Handle Damaged Russian Tanker Drifting to Coast
Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) has contracted a specialist company to handle a damaged Russian tanker carrying LNG drifting towards the Libyan coast. The Arctic Metagaz will be towed to a Libyan port, and the NOC stated that the country's oil facilities are not at risk of pollution.
The Russian tanker, unmanned since early March, was damaged off the Libyan coast. According to Libya's NOC, the tanker is drifting towards the shore due to wind and waves. The emergency contract was arranged through Mellitah Oil and Gas in cooperation with Italy's Eni. An emergency room has been established to coordinate operations with relevant authorities, and the NOC has stated that the environmental threat can be largely controlled. The tanker is estimated to be carrying 450 metric tons of heavy oil, 250 tons of diesel fuel, and an uncertain quantity of LNG.
Key Facts
- The Arctic Metagaz tanker has been unmanned since early March after Russia's Transport Ministry reported it was hit by Ukrainian naval drones.
- The tanker is carrying LNG from the Arctic port of Murmansk.
- Italy, France, Spain, and six other southern EU members warned the European Commission last week that the tanker posed a major ecological disaster risk.
- Libya's NOC said the country's oil facilities were not at risk of pollution.
- The emergency contract was arranged through Mellitah Oil and Gas in cooperation with Italy's Eni.
- The tanker is estimated to be carrying 450 metric tons of heavy oil and 250 tons of diesel as fuel.
- The tanker is drifting towards the shore due to wind and waves.
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Research Sources
- Market Screener — Libya hires firm to tackle stricken Russian tanker drifting towards coast