The Government of National Unity in Tripoli (GNU) announced that the Libyan coast guard had 'begun towing' a damaged LNG?tanker, which several Mediterranean countries had warned was a risk to the environment after it drifted?unmanned? for weeks.

The Russian-flagged Arctic Metagaz carrying LNG from Arctic port Murmansk has been drifting since early March when Russia's Transport Ministry claimed it had been hit by Ukrainian drones.

It drifted to the coast of Zuwara, a port in western Libya.

Last week, Italy, France and Spain, along with six other EU southern members, wrote to the European Commission warning that the tanker presented "an immediate and serious risk of an ecological disaster". In a video, GNU Transport Minister Mohamed Al-Shahoubi stated that Libya's National Oil Corporation was tasked to unload the cargo of the Russian tanker. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also coordinating with Russian and Maltese officials in order to ensure the safety of the maritime navigation of the Mediterranean basin.

In a later statement, the NOC stated that "there has been no leakage of cargo up to now." It also added that the environment was in good condition with no signs of imminent danger.

The Tripoli-based GNU’s Hakomitna platform posted a video on Tuesday showing a frigate pulling the tanker through the water with a thick cord.

Omar Mohamed Omar Al-Tuwair said in a video that an abandoned tanker had been towed from Zuwara.

Tuwair stated that "we assure our people throughout Libya, but especially in the western coastal areas, Zuwara, Sabratha and all the other affected areas, that the relevant authorities will do everything possible to address the situation."

The authorities have not yet revealed the final destination of?the?tanker.

According to the Russian Transport Ministry, the drones which hit the tanker came from Libya. The incident has not been commented upon by either Ukraine or Libya. (Reporting and Editing by William Maclean, Lincoln Feast and Ahmed Elumami)

(source: Reuters)