A damaged and unmanned Russian tanker is drifting in the Mediterranean Sea and could pose a potential environmental disaster.
This is the warning from the governments of Italy, France and seven other countries in a letter to the European Commission. The letter calls for swift action to avoid an environmental disaster if the ship starts leaking oil.
- The precarious condition of the ship and its special cargo pose a serious risk of an imminent major environmental disaster in the heart of the EU's maritime area, the countries write in the letter.
The ship, called "Arctic Metagaz", has been drifting in the Mediterranean Sea since March 3, when a fire broke out on board the ship after several explosions. In connection with the fire, the crew of 30 people were rescued from the 277-meter-long ship.
Russia criticizes Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of being behind the attack. At the same time, Putin has criticized the EU for providing support to Ukraine.
- The EU is providing the regime in Kyiv with endless help with weapons and money, and the regime in Kyiv is creating one problem after another for the EU, Vladimir Putin said, according to the dpa news agency, just under two weeks ago.
The Ukrainian government has not commented on the Russian claim that Ukraine was behind it.
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that the "Arctic Metagaz" has around 700 tons of fuel on board as well as a significant amount of natural gas. She believes that it is immediately the countries around the Mediterranean that must deal with the situation.
- The international legal norms that apply to the current situation imply that coastal countries are responsible for resolving the situation with the drifting ship and preventing an environmental disaster, Zakharova said in a statement.
- Further involvement from the shipowner and Russia as a flag state will depend on the specific circumstances, it added.
/ritzau/Reuters
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