VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Five EU member states, including Malta and Italy, have called on the European Commission to activate the bloc’s civil protection mechanism over the drifting Russian tanker Arctic Metagaz.
In a joint letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the leaders of Malta, Italy, Spain, Greece and Cyprus warned the vessel poses an “imminent and serious risk” of a major ecological disaster.
They cited the tanker’s damaged condition and hazardous cargo as key concerns, urging a coordinated EU-level response to mobilise resources quickly.
“The precarious condition of the vessel… gives rise to an imminent and serious risk,” the leaders wrote, stressing the need for rapid intervention and coordination through EU agencies, including the European Maritime Safety Agency.
The tanker, part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, was hit earlier this month in a suspected Ukrainian drone attack, causing an explosion and fire. Though the crew survived, the vessel remains abandoned and continues drifting, now closer to Libya, still carrying liquefied natural gas and fuel.
The countries also warned of complications linked to international sanctions, noting that while EU rules allow exemptions for safety and environmental protection, other jurisdictions may not.
The letter, initiated by Malta, highlighted broader risks posed by vessels operating outside international standards, warning of threats to maritime safety and the environment across the Mediterranean.
Leaders said the issue would be raised at the upcoming European Council, pledging to work towards a “swift, European-led resolution.”
-Photo: Transport Malta-
(ITALPRESS).
