A Russian oil and gas tanker, the 'Arctic Metagaz', is adrift without crew in the Mediterranean Sea after allegedly being targeted by Ukrainian drones. According to the Russian Transport Ministry, the vessel was attacked by drones launched from the Libyan coast, with all 30 crew members evacuated. Footage showed the ship ablaze with a large gash in its side.

Italian authorities reported the unmanned tanker drifting toward the Libyan coast, risking an environmental disaster. A spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry stated the heavily damaged ship carries 450 tons of heavy fuel, 250 tons of diesel, and 'significant amounts of gas'. She noted explosions are heard on board, gas is leaking, and visible fires are present.

Natalia Gozak from the NGO Greenpeace emphasized time is critical. She told DW: "It is absolutely essential to bring the ship under control, pump it out and sink it in a controlled manner. If the oil and diesel leak, it will be devastating for the environment. But of course, such an operation could be very dangerous – the large quantities of gas on board, estimated at over 60,000 tons, could explode."

Gozak explained that vessels of Russia's 'shadow fleet' – a clandestine network of thousands of ships purportedly operated to evade sanctions – regularly cause environmental damage. Russia has been purchasing used ships and re-registering them under new owners, managers, and flag states to continue transporting its oil and gas. She said: "The tankers are often old, in poor condition, uninsured and their tracking systems are turned off so they cannot be monitored. Furthermore, the tankers receive their cargo at sea and oil is often spilled in the process."

On March 21, Libya's National Oil Corporation announced collaboration with Italian group Eni to retrieve the damaged tanker. A statement said: "It will be towed safely to one of the Libyan ports following coordination with the relevant authorities," adding that action had been taken to 'reduce the risk of pollution'. Italy's Civil Protection Department said towing the wreck would be a 'complex operation' due to the 'large breach along its side'.

Research Professor Alexander Lott at the Norwegian Center for the Law of the Sea said the incident would have implications for the law of war if Ukraine's involvement in the drone attacks is confirmed. He stated: "In the past, only the US and India have defined ships transporting certain goods, such as oil and gas, whose sale helps finance a war, as legitimate targets. If Ukraine did carry out this attack, it would mean it had aligned itself with this US position. Russia also appears to have done so, as demonstrated by attacks on merchant ships in 2022."

Lott added that statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin's adviser Nikolai Patrushev also point to escalation: "He recently said that Russia would now send armed naval patrols to protect Russian merchant ships and might even equip the ships themselves with weapons. Would they then automatically become legitimate targets of war?"

Maritime security and law expert Ian Ralby expressed fears that attacks on tankers could become more frequent. He added: "And both sides in the conflict [the war in Ukraine] now seem to be focusing on maritime traffic as well." He noted a similar situation is unfolding in the Strait of Hormuz, where several tankers have been bombed since the start of the US-Israel war against Iran.

Ralby highlighted the incident exposes limitations of sanctions against Russia: "They have now given rise to a parallel system involving many actors operating outside the framework of global trade governed by certain rules. We must, therefore, make the sanctions more effective – by building better relations with the countries doing trade with sanctioned states, for example." He included BRICS members such as India, Egypt, and Indonesia.

Greenpeace's Gozak urged more action to address the shadow fleet and tackle the root problem: "This situation could only arise because we are dependent on fossil fuels, a large portion of which still comes from Russia. That is why we must switch to renewable energies. When we no longer need oil, Russian shadow tankers will no longer be a problem."

Source: www.dw.com