A Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessel caught fire on Tuesday in the Mediterranean Sea, as reported by maritime security sources and cited by Reuters.
The ship, named Arctic Metagaz and sailing under the Russian flag, is subject to sanctions imposed by the United States and United Kingdom. According to MarineTraffic data, the vessel had last reported its position on Monday, navigating near the coast of Malta.
The Armed Forces of Malta received a distress signal from the ship and successfully located it. However, they did not disclose details regarding the extent of the fire or any damage incurred by the vessel.
Rescue teams later found the crew aboard a lifeboat within Libya’s search and rescue zone. An official statement confirmed that all crew members were safe.
One source mentioned by Reuters suggested the possibility of a naval drone attack on the vessel, with suspicions pointing toward Ukraine, though no evidence was provided to support this claim.
The ship's manager, Russian company LLC SMP Techmanagement, along with gas producer Novatek and the Russian Ministry of Transport, did not immediately respond to requests for comment, as reported by the agency.
Key Questions About the Russian LNG Ship Fire
What caused the fire on the Russian LNG vessel in the Mediterranean?
The cause of the fire is currently unclear, though one source speculated it might have been targeted by a naval drone, with Ukraine as a potential suspect. However, no evidence has been presented to substantiate this claim.
Were there any casualties or injuries reported from the incident?
According to official reports, all crew members were found safe in a lifeboat within Libya’s search and rescue region, and no injuries or casualties have been reported.
Has there been any response from the ship's managing company or related entities?
As per the latest updates, neither the ship's manager LLC SMP Techmanagement, nor the gas producer Novatek, nor the Russian Ministry of Transport have responded to inquiries about the incident.