TRIPOLI, Libya

Libya announced on Wednesday that a Russian LNG tanker that had been drifting off its coast for a prolonged period has been towed into international waters, with the National Oil Corporation assigned to oversee its unloading.

The Government of National Unity shared a video statement by Transport Minister Mohammed al-Shuhubi on the development.

Shuhubi said a crisis unit had been established under the instructions of Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah to monitor the abandoned Russian LNG tanker drifting in the Mediterranean.

He noted that Libyan tugboats had pulled the tanker out of Libyan territorial waters into international waters and that the National Oil Corporation was tasked with handling the unloading process.

Shuhubi added that coordination had been maintained with Russia through the Foreign Ministry and that Libya was also cooperating with Malta and Italy on the matter.

Crew of Russian tanker rescued

The Libyan Ports and Maritime Transport Authority had announced on March 4 that explosions occurred aboard the Russian-flagged gas tanker “ARCTIC METAGAZ,” and that all 30 crew members were rescued.

Although initial reports said the tanker sank about 130 miles north of Sirte Port, it was later revealed that the vessel had not sunk and continued drifting off Libya’s western coast.

Russia’s Transport Ministry said on March 4 that the tanker was targeted by unmanned naval vehicles while sailing in the Mediterranean.

The ministry stated that the liquefied gas tanker was attacked by sea drones launched from the Libyan coast, while confirming that the 30-member Russian crew had been rescued.

*Writing by Merve Berker