Arctic Metagaz, in the field the Libyan oil company and Eni to avert an unprecedented disaster in the Sicilian Channel

A possible environmental emergency looms over the waters of the central Mediterranean, but the Libyan state oil company and its international partners have already taken action to avert the danger.

The National Oil Corporation (NOC) of Libya, through its subsidiary Mellitah and in close cooperation with its strategic Italian partner Eni, has announced the launch of an extraordinary operation to secure and tow the Russian ship Arctic Metagaz, currently out of control off the Libyan coast. The 277-meter behemoth, carrying 60,000 tons of LNG and hundreds of tons of diesel in its tanks, has been drifting for weeks in the Strait of Sicily, initially heading west, alarming the residents of Lampedusa, and now the current and wind are pushing it south, into an area dotted with oil platforms.  

The vessel, described as a potential “ecological bomb”, sustained severe damage in recent days and has completely lost its maneuverability. Particularly critical is the type of cargo: the ship is carrying liquefied natural gas. Recent findings indicate that the combined action of strong winds and rough seas is progressively pushing the wreck toward the Libyan coastline. This trajectory has made immediate intervention necessary to protect the territorial waters and contain the risk of pollution to the marine and coastal ecosystem.

In the face of the threat, the Libyan agency has activated an emergency procedure. NOC and Eni have entrusted crisis management to a leading international company, specialized in salvaging ships and oil platforms and in preventing marine spills. The operational goal is the rapid securing of the wreck and subsequent towing to a Libyan port, ensuring conditions of full protection.

While acknowledging the sensitivity of the situation, the leadership of the NOC has issued a reassuring message, stating that containing this environmental threat is considered "entirely possible". The company also specified that all oil infrastructure in the country, including offshore platforms and port facilities, are currently safe from pollution risks or collateral damage. To ensure the maximum effectiveness of operations, a dedicated operations room has been established, tasked with coordinating every phase of the intervention and maintaining direct and constant monitoring of the situation. Activities are conducted under the personal supervision of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NOC, in close coordination with the Port Authority and other relevant institutions.