On 21 March, the NOC announced that through its subsidiary Mellitah Oil & Gas and in cooperation with Italy’s Eni, an international company in has been contracted to handle the damaged Russian gas tanker currently drifting off the Libyan coast. The NOC said the company is specialized in handling drifting tankers, offshore oil platforms, and similar vessels that could result in oil spills into the sea, but did not reveal the name of the company. The NOC said the tanker was carrying a cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Furthermore, it said an emergency room was established to monitor the situation.
The NOC Chairman Suleiman issued a statement reassuring Libyan citizens that the NOC is ‘closely monitoring the situation of the damaged Russian gas tanker’ in order to ‘ensure complete control of the situation and the security of the coast and facilities.’
It has also been reported that several Libyan naval units – including from the Coast Guard and the NOC – have been deployed to secure the vessel and prevent environmental risks.
On 22 March, international observers geolocated the drifting tanker off the Sabratha offshore platform and sailing near the Valy rig. The tanker was moving at about 1.1 knots toward Zuwara. The area around Zuwara has been classified as high-risk for navigation, with transiting vessels advised to maintain a safe distance.
On 23 March, the NOC assured all citizens that the relevant authorities are closely monitoring the situation of the damaged Russian tanker off the Libyan coast, in direct government coordination and under the supervision of the Government of National Unity (GNU). A central operations room has been activated, operating around the clock. This room includes representatives from the NOC, the companies operating offshore facilities, and the Ports and Maritime Transport Authority. It also maintains technical coordination with international partners, including Eni North Africa.
The NOC said this operations room is responsible for closely monitoring the tanker’s movements, continuously analyzing field data, and studying all possible scenarios, including environmental ones, to ensure that appropriate measures are taken promptly and with the highest degree of professionalism and responsibility. The NOC has raised its state of readiness and preparedness in anticipation of any emergency and has activated emergency plans to combat any spills or leaks of the tanker’s cargo.
On 24 March, citizens temporarily blocked access to the Mellitah complex in protest at the lack of action over the tanker approaching the coast. As of midday local time, the Arctic Metagaz was around 35 km off the coast of Zuwara. It was reportedly visible from the shore.
At around 3pm local time, the GNU Ministry of Defence said it had successfully boarded the damaged Russian LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz and secured it to a tugboat dispatched from the port of Misrata. The vessel is now under Libyan control and is being towed away from the coast to eliminate any potential threat to Libyan territorial waters and coastal areas.