Destroyed Russian tanker drifting closer to Malta

The Russian shadow fleet tanker destroyed in an apparent attack earlier this week remains afloat and is drifting closer to Malta, Times of Malta can confirm.

The abandoned gas tanker is now just 130 nautical miles from Malta’s coast, tracking data shows, raising questions over how the ship's debris and any potential oil spills will be handled.

Authorities were first notified of the ship in distress on Tuesday afternoon. At the time, the tanker was some 150 nautical miles off Malta’s coast, just outside Malta’s search and rescue zone.

Russia has since blamed the attack on Ukraine, describing it as a “terrorist attack”. Ukraine has yet to comment on the situation.

Despite suffering extensive damage, the ship currently remains afloat, with the tide now carrying the tanker closer to Malta.

Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri told parliament that the tanker was 140 nautical miles from Malta’s shore by early Wednesday afternoon.

The Russian vessel is believed to have been attacked by enemy fire.

The damaged tanker has continued drifting towards Malta since then, with tracking data placing it at 130 nautical miles from Malta’s coast by Thursday afternoon.

This suggests the tanker has drifted some 20 nautical miles closer to Malta since it was first detected.

Weather forecasts suggest prevailing winds could carry the tanker closer to Malta over the next three days.

It remains unclear who is responsible for the tanker and its cargo at the moment.

Authorities cannot act on a Russian vessel floating in international waters, although this could change if the tanker eventually drifts into Malta's territorial waters.

In January, a Russian shadow fleet tanker damaged in a Ukrainian drone strike ran aground in Turkey, prompting Turkish authorities to deploy emergency tugboats to the scene.

It also remains unclear whether Russian authorities are currently planning a salvage operation to retrieve the vessel. Questions have been sent to the Russian Embassy.

Meanwhile, sources said Maltese authorities are seeking advice with a view to contacting the ship owners.

Environmental concerns

The situation has also raised environmental concerns.

Sources say a similar strike on an oil tanker, rather than gas tanker, would have wreaked havoc across large parts of the Mediterranean Sea.

University rector and chemist Alfred Vella told Times of Malta the ship’s LNG cargo itself posed little imminent danger to the environment or to human life.

“Any gas that didn't burn off as CO2 will have evaporated as methane. LNG rarely causes massive explosions. However, the vessel's own fuel and bilge water could cause harm if it were to leak out," he said.

It remains unclear what cargo the ship was carrying at the time of the incident.

A spokesman for Transport Malta confirmed that the vessel was currently drifting around 130 nautical miles off Malta.

"Though we do not have full visibility, we believe the risk is minimal. Even if it sinks in its current location, we believe the spill will be contained - especially since we are informed that this kind of LNG vessel does not carry a lot of fuel.

“From the photo evidence we have so far, the blast did not lead to any oil spills,” the spokesperson added.

Still, maritime observers expressed concern over the course of the wreckage.

"Of course, it poses a potential risks to other vessels, and what will happen if it drifts too close to the island? What if it sinks then and there's an oil spill?"

Meanwhile, another Russian shadow fleet tanker that came to the rescue of the 30 crew members aboard the Arctic Metagaz unexpectedly reversed course on Thursday.

In the wake of the blast, the crew boarded a lifeboat and escaped to the Respect, a Russian oil tanker that happened to be nearby. They were eventually taken to Libya, where two members were treated for their injuries.

The Respect had been travelling eastwards across the Mediterranean. However, it dramatically changed course on Thursday, with tracking data showing it now heading westwards, seemingly towards the Strait of Gibraltar. The ship is currently sailing just north of Tunisia.