On 7 April, the heavily damaged Russian LPG tanker Arctic Metagaz was still drifting in the central Mediterranean. The ship was reported to be northwest of Benghazi, within Libya’s Search and Rescue (SAR) zone, being monitored by tenders and tugs at a distance but not under stable tow toward a port of refuge.
The Libyan National Army’s (LNA) Navy took the lead in efforts to stabilize the ship and to get it under control. A high-level Emergency and Rapid Response Committee led by Navy Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Shoaib Yusuf al‑Saber discussed and analyzed the situation to determine a way ahead. The LNA Navy naval patrol vessel TBZ 15 and a specialist diving team arrived on the scene. They were gathering information about the condition of the ship, also using an aerial drone.
On 8 April, the wreck was reported about 70–90 nm off the eastern Libyan coast, in relatively stable calm‑weather conditions.The Emergency and Rapid Response Committee convened at the Naval Operations Division headquarters to review the situation surrounding the Arctic Metagaz. Participants examined current precautionary steps and reviewed contingency plans designed to protect Libya’s coastline from any risks linked to the vessel. The meeting underscored the need for tighter coordination among relevant agencies and the full implementation of maritime safety measures.
On 9 April, the LNA’s Navy and Benghazi port crews managed to reattach the towing line between the drifting Arctic Metagaz and the Egyptian tug Maridive 701, after the crippled Russian LNG carrier once again veered dangerously toward the coast, reaching this time roughly 16 nm northwest of Sidi Khalifah.
In Benghazi, the Emergency and Rapid Response Committee discussed proposed solutions with a team of Russian experts.
On 9 April in the afternoon, the Arctic Metagaz was 29 nm north of Benghazi, towed north by the tug Maridive 701 and the Libyan Julyana 2 from the Julyana Free Zone in Benghazi.
On 10 April as of 16:22 CEST, the Maridive 701 was slowly pulling the wreck northward at about one knot. Its progress was marked by repeated stop‑and‑go maneuvers that reflect the ongoing struggle between the tug and the massive, unresponsive tanker despite calm seas. A second, smaller tug, the Turkish‑flagged ICDAS 1, joined the operation earlier in the day. Forecasts on that day indicated that southerly currents would strengthen from the evening of 11 April through 14 April, adding further pressure to an already fragile towing effort.
The Emergency and Rapid Response Committee announced that a specialized Russian technical team safely reached the stranded Russian tanker in the morning and immediately began initial on‑site assessments to prepare for full technical inspections of the vessel’s condition and potential risks. Committee spokesperson Magdy Al‑Sharif said that the committee is working in continuous coordination with relevant military and technical bodies and has implemented preventive measures to contain any hazards, protect Libya’s coastline, and prevent environmental or navigational repercussions such as leaks or disruptions to maritime traffic.
On 12 April at noon, the Russian LNG tanker was about 101 nm north of Benghazi.