UK holiday hotspot Malta faces ‘major ecological disaster’, so urgent warning

The 900-foot Arctic Metagaz, a burnt-out Russian ghost tanker, has drifted dangerously close to Malta, an archipelago in the central Mediterranean known for its history and culture.

Malta – a popular holiday destination – is said to be at risk of “major ecological disaster”.

A burnt-out Russian ghost tanker is believed to be about 50 nautical miles south-west of the island and drifting without a crew towards the archipelago. The ship was attacked by Ukrainian drones two weeks ago and since then, the hole-filled 900 ft Arctic Metagaz has been headed towards Malta.

And now several European countries warn that an ecological threat is imminent. In a letter to the European Commission, the seven countries said the “fragile condition of the ship, combined with the nature of its particular cargo” poses a “serious risk”. These countries have described the situation as a “dual challenge”: upholding maritime security and preventing ecological disaster against the backdrop of EU-imposed sanctions.

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A dramatic sunset is depicted in the sky over Malta (Image: Getty)

Russia claimed Ukraine used an “uncrewed maritime drone” to target Metagaz in the Mediterranean Sea between Libya and Malta. The Security Service of Ukraine has not responded to the allegation.

Russia claims that the attack occurred on March 4 and originated from the Libyan coast. The United States and the European Union had previously sanctioned the ship for its involvement in Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet”.

The fleet, made up largely of old tankers, moves Russian oil and gas around the world, bypassing Western sanctions. Authorities in Malta and Italy are closely monitoring the wreck due to concerns about potential pollution. Rome said the ship was carrying “considerable quantities of gas, heavy oil and diesel fuel”.

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WWF Italy warned in a statement, “Potential leaks could cause fires and cryogenic clouds that could be lethal to marine life and cause widespread and long-lasting pollution of water and atmosphere.”

It added: “The affected area is of exceptional ecological value, with fragile deep-sea ecosystems and the highest biodiversity in the Mediterranean basin.”

A maritime source told AFP on Sunday that rescue experts were already in Malta to prepare for the ship’s arrival in Maltese waters, while a specialist ship was en route.

Initial reports indicated that the ship sank after a fire caused by the explosions. Libyan officials said the tanker went down about 130 nautical miles north of the port of Sirte. According to Russia’s Transport Ministry, there were about 30 Russians aboard the Arctic Metagaz. Malta’s Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri said the Armed Forces of Malta found them all “safe and well in a lifeboat”.

This aerial photo taken on March 15 shows the debris (Image: Newsbook Malta/AFP via Getty Images).

However, Malta’s transport authority said last week that debris remained. The Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation acknowledged that the ship was adrift in the Mediterranean Sea and said that Russia’s further involvement in resolving the situation would depend on “concrete circumstances”. It said efforts to address the situation – including monitoring, surveillance and other technical assistance – could risk “undermining the integrity, effectiveness and deterrent value of the EU sanctions regime”.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the ship had no crew and was carrying 700 metric tonnes of various types of fuel along with “a substantial amount of natural gas”.

Zakharova wrote, “International legal norms applicable to the current situation reflect the responsibility of coastal countries … to resolve the situation with the drifting ship and prevent an environmental disaster.”

“Further involvement by the shipowner and Russia as the flag state will depend on the specific circumstances.”