The Ministry of Defense of the Government of National Unity announced that specialized teams have successfully reached the Russian liquefied natural gas tanker that had drifted close to the coast of the city of Zuwara. The vessel has been secured and safely tethered in preparation for towing it to a suitable location, as part of a precise technical plan aimed at controlling its situation and preventing it from drifting toward the coastal strip. It added that a marine tug affiliated with the oil fields is participating in the operation, providing continuous technical and logistical support to accelerate the process and ensure the safe and efficient execution of the towing plan. These efforts come within the framework of ongoing institutional coordination between the Ministry of Defense, the Coast Guard, the National Oil Corporation, and all relevant entities, ensuring the protection of oil facilities, the safety of maritime navigation, and the mitigation of any potential environmental impact. Earlier, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced that it had raised its level of readiness to the highest levels to monitor developments related to the damaged Russian tanker off the Libyan coast.

Source: Libya Observer March 24, 2026 18:02 UTC