A Russian-flagged liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker under U.S. and UK sanctions caught fire in the Mediterranean early Tuesday following a reported explosion, with the fate of its crew initially unclear, according to Reuters and the Times of Malta.
The vessel, identified as the Arctic Metagaz, was reportedly destroyed around 4 a.m. local time between Malta and Libya. Multiple sources cited by the Times of Malta said a series of explosions occurred before the crew was rescued and transferred to another vessel in the area. Shipping and maritime security sources told Reuters the tanker was ablaze, though no official distress signal had been recorded.
According to ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic, the vessel last reported its position off the coast of Malta on Monday. Security firm EOS Risk Group indicated the ship may have suffered a drone attack while transiting eastbound toward the Suez Canal after departing Murmansk on February 24 with LNG cargo loaded from a floating storage unit.
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Photo of the Arctic Metagaz tanker – image source: Shipnext
The tanker had reportedly deactivated its AIS tracker for approximately 300 kilometers prior to the incident, allegedly following a so-called “gray route” to evade sanctions enforcement.
If confirmed, the destruction of the Arctic Metagaz could mark the first known instance of an LNG carrier being blown up in a conflict-related attack. While oil tankers have been damaged in recent Mediterranean blasts — Reuters reported three such incidents in the past month — LNG carriers have historically avoided direct strikes, given the heightened safety and environmental risks involved.
Malta’s Armed Forces deployed surveillance aircraft after the incident was reported via maritime radio channels. Authorities said environmental damage was unlikely, as the vessel was believed to be carrying LNG rather than crude oil.
Ukraine has been suspected in previous strikes targeting Russia-linked shipping, though no immediate confirmation of responsibility was available.
The incident marks a sharp escalation in maritime risk across the Mediterranean, a region increasingly touched by the widening conflict.
By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com
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