Wrecked Russian shadow fleet vessel could leave Malta with costly bill

Arctic Megagaz still afloat some 80 nautical miles from the island

If the wreckage of a destroyed Russian shadow fleet tanker were to drift into Maltese waters, the legal and practical consequences could be a nightmare, experts have warned.

The Arctic Megagaz blew up, allegedly after being attacked, and until yesterday it was still afloat some 80 nautical miles from Malta.

Maritime lawyer Ann Fenech warned that the issue would be “hugely problematic”, particularly when it comes to liability and compensation, should it enter Maltese waters.

Under normal circumstances, the insurer of a vessel would coordinate salvage operations and cover damages caused by accidents or spills. However, shadow fleet ships often operate under opaque ownership structures and are insured through the Russian market.

Maltese authorities facing a costly maritime disaster with no clear party responsible for paying the bill- Maritime lawyer Ann Fenech

Also, if a sanctioned vessel were to enter Maltese territorial waters, EU law would require Malta to issue a freezing order against the ship. Enforcing such an order on a severely damaged vessel would present practical headaches.

The result, she warned, could leave the Maltese authorities facing a costly maritime disaster with no clear party responsible for paying the bill.

Experts were relieved to learn the Arctic Megagaz was carrying LNG. If an oil tanker were to ever sink in the Mediterranean the environmental consequen­ces would be catastrophic.

See story ‘Why Russia’s shadow fleet matters to Malta’

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