Mediterranean states say adrift Russian tanker is 'imminent and serious' threat
Mediterranean states say adrift Russian tanker is 'imminent and serious' threat
ReutersMon, March 16, 2026 at 6:01 PM UTC
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A Russian LNG tanker, Arctic Metagaz, damaged earlier this month and currently adrift without crew, floats in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea between Malta and the Italian islands of Lampedusa and Linosa, in this handout picture released on March 13, 2026. Marina Militare/Handout via REUTERS
BRUSSELS, March 16 (Reuters) - Italy, France and seven other nations told the European Commission that a Russian liquefied natural gas tanker currently adrift in the Mediterranean represents an ecological threat, and they urged swift action on the issue, a letter showed on Monday.
"The precarious condition of the vessel, combined with the nature of its specialised cargo, gives rise to an imminent and serious risk of a major ecological disaster in the heart of the Union's maritime space," the letter seen by Reuters said.
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Russia's transport ministry said the Arctic Metagaz, carrying LNG from the Arctic port of Murmansk, was attacked earlier this month by Ukrainian naval drones launched from the Libyan coast. Kyiv has not claimed responsibility for any such attack.
(Reporting by Angelo Amante; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Source: “AOL Breaking”
