Russian gas tanker explodes between Malta and Libya

Updated Wednesday 8am

A gas tanker believed to be part of Russia's shadow fleet exploded between  Malta and Libya early on Tuesday morning, with sources saying it was "likely" attacked by enemy fire, Times of Malta is informed. 

Multiple sources said the LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz was destroyed around 4am between Malta and Libya. A series of explosions was reported before the crew was rescued and transferred to another vessel in the area.

According to Vesseltraffic.com, the vessel is currently located to the east of the island, sources said. 

The Armed Forces of Malta deployed an aircraft over the burning vessel shortly after the incident was communicated on maritime radio channels.  

"Earlier this afternoon, the Rescue Coordination Centre Malta of the Armed Forces of Malta was informed of a distress situation outside its search and rescue area involving the merchant vessel MT Arctic Metagaz while transiting the central Mediterranean," it said.

It confirmed the survivors were located within the Libyan SRR in a lifeboat.

The Arctic Metagaz was registered on vesselfinder.com just 20 nautical miles off Malta on Monday.

Footage on 'X', which could not be immediately verified, showed the ship engulfed in flames.

"It was a case of deflagration; the indications are that there was a huge explosion on board," one source told Times of Malta. 

EOS Risk Group said the vessel is reported to have suffered a drone attack while in transit eastbound in the Mediterranean, south east of Malta.

"There was no distress signal by the vessel and no information on the status of the crew or cargo…. Arctic Metagaz, which is under US and UK sanctions since 2024, had departed Murmansk, Russia, on 24 February after loading cargo at an FSU and was likely in transit toward Suez." 

A representative of the Diaplous Group, a maritime security and risk management firm based in Greece, confirmed to website gCaptain by phone that the vessel was on fire.

“We can confirm it happened, but we do not know any further details at this time,” the representative said. No distress signals were recorded.

Of particular concern is the fact that the ship had deactivated its automatic identification system during the last approximately 300 kilometres of its journey, following, according to security sources, a so-called "gray route" in order to circumvent restrictions and embargoes.

Informed sources said it was unlikely that the incident would cause environmental damage to Malta since it was believed to be carrying only LNG. 

Reuters recently reported that three oil tankers have been damaged by blasts in the last month in separate incidents around the Mediterranean, with the causes unknown.

Last December, Ukraine hit the Russian-linked tanker Qendil with drones in the Mediterranean, marking the first shadow fleet strike outside Black Sea.  

Abela, Borg discuss incident

Opposition leader Alex Borg said in a Facebook post that he had discussed the tanker incident with the prime minister since it had occurred in Malta's search and rescue zone.

He offered the Opposition's help and asked for the Opposition to be kept informed of developments. 

The meeting was attended by Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri and the shadow minister for home affairs Darren Carabott. 

"This particular moment demands that we stand above politics and work together," Borg said.   

AFM involved in search and rescue coordination

Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri and the AFM in Facebook posts said a search for the tanker was launched as soon as the AFM's rescue coordination centre was informed of the incident.

The vessel was located in international waters, they said and, in line with international obligations, coordination was made with nearby vessels and international organisations.

The whole crew was found safe and sound on a lifeboat in the Libya search and rescue zone.The situation will continue to be monitored, the minister said.

The minister confirmed that he had briefed the Opposition during a meeting in parliament 'in the national interest.'