Russian tanker could reach Libya in four days
Concern over the drifting Russian tanker intensified after Italian civil protection officials said the vessel could reach Libya’s shoreline within four to six days if winds and currents continue pushing it south, as reported by Reuters on March 20th.
The ship, which has been unmanned since sustaining heavy damage in early March, is now about 53 nautical miles north of Tripoli in international waters covered by Libya’s search-and-rescue zone.That update shifts the focus from a general Mediterranean pollution threat to a more immediate question of where the vessel may end up and who would have to act first.
Italian officials said any direct intervention would formally fall to Libya because of the tanker’s current position, although Rome has indicated it is prepared to help if Libyan authorities request assistance with interest in the newly discovered gas reserve in Libyan territory. Coast guard and navy units are continuing to track the ship’s movement.
The tanker is not believed to be on the verge of sinking, despite a large rupture in its hull. Even so, officials say the environmental risk remains significant because the vessel is thought to still contain about 450 metric tonnes of heavy oil, roughly 250 tonnes of diesel, and an unknown amount of liquefied natural gas, some of which may already have dispersed.
The main concern now is not only structural failure, but also the possibility that the ship could drift aground if it reaches the Libyan coast. Italian authorities said there are currently no offshore platforms in the tanker’s immediate path, reducing one short-term hazard.
Southern EU governments have already described the drifting tanker as not only an environmental hazard but also a sanctions related international issue because of its alleged connection to shadow networks used to keep Russian energy exports moving despite Western restrictions, such sanctions could reflect to Libya in case of missed, unsatisfactory or negligent counter actions.
Reuters, maghrebi.org
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