Libya authorities say begin towing damaged Russian tanker

TRIPOLI, Libya (AFP) — Libya’s Tripoli-based administration on Tuesday announced the start of operations to tow a Russian gas tanker that was damaged and abandoned in the Mediterranean for weeks.

“The center for the coordination of search and rescue operations and the coast guard are supervising the operation,” the U.N.-backed Libyan Government of National Unity said in a statement on Facebook.

It said specialized teams had succeeded in securing and mooring the vessel, “while awaiting towing to a suitable location to avoid drifting towards the coast.”

The Arctic Metagaz was ferrying about 770 tons of fuel and a consignment of liquified natural gas from Russia to Egypt when it was hit by a series of explosions on March 3.

Russia accused Ukraine of trying to blow it up, though Kyiv has yet to comment.

The 30 crew members were rescued, leaving the LNG-laden carrier to drift between Malta and Libya for three weeks.

Libya’s National Oil Corporation had announced on Saturday that it would collaborate with Italian group Eni to fetch the wrecked vessel.

The Government of National Unity on Tuesday said it was “mobilizing all available means” to preserve security in Libya’s territorial waters.

It added that an oil field tugboat was participating in the operation, noting that the mission was being conducted in coordination between the defense ministry, the coast guard and the National Oil Corporation.

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By Agence France-Presse