Rival Libyan authorities compete over drifting Russian tanker

The Russian cargo vessel Arctic MetaGaz is now just a few dozen kilometres off the Libyan coast, triggering a race between the Government of National Unity (GNU) and the House of Representatives (HoR) over who will manage the increasingly dangerous situation.

On 23 March, the Defense and National Security Committee of the Libyan House of Representatives expressed concern over the potential security and military implications of an incident involving the Russian liquefied natural gas tanker, according to Libya Observer.

The vessel—believed to be part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” used to circumvent international sanctions—was reportedly struck by a suspected drone attack near Maltese waters. According to Moscow, the sea drones were launched by Ukrainian forces from Libya, although neither Ukraine’s security services nor representatives of the GNU have confirmed this, as reported by Libya Gazette on March 23.

The HoR, under the influence of the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by General Khalifa Haftar, has firmly rejected any such accusations. The diverging positions between the UN-recognized government in Tripoli and Haftar’s eastern-based authorities highlight Libya’s deep and increasingly structural political fragmentation, as well as the LNA’s close ties with Moscow.

In a statement, the committee warned that the drifting, abandoned vessel near Libyan shores poses a serious environmental threat and represents a clear violation of Libya’s national security.

The committee also condemned the attack on the civilian tanker, describing it as an “act of maritime terrorism” that threatens the safety of international navigation. It firmly rejected claims that the drones used in the strike were launched from Libyan territory. At the same time, it warned that the tanker’s proximity to key oil infrastructure—particularly the Mellitah complex—poses a significant security and economic risk, urging maximum caution and the activation of emergency response plans.

The municipality of Zuwara announced on March 22 that the vessel is drifting northwest and is now approximately 65 kilometers from the coast.

However, efforts to address the crisis had already begun earlier. On March 21, the National Oil Corporation (NOC), Libya’s main oil company under the control of the GNU, together with Italy’s energy group Eni, launched an emergency operation to secure the tanker, as reported by Il Sole 24 Ore. The operation aims both to contain environmental risks and to tow the vessel to a safe Libyan port. Authorities have stated that the country’s oil infrastructure, including offshore platforms and terminals, is not currently exposed to direct pollution threats.

The Libyan Ministry of Transport, aligned with the GNU, had already held an emergency meeting on March 19 to coordinate the response.

The presence of the Arctic MetaGaz is not an isolated case. A sanctioned Russian cargo ship, on 21 January has previously delivered a suspected military shipment to eastern Libya, further underscoring the growing strategic relationship between Haftar’s forces and Russia.

Libya Observer, Il Sole 24Ore, Libya Gazette, Maghrebi.org