Misrata Free Zone said on Tuesday it had dispatched a specialised maritime team aboard the tugboat Al-Samida to help manage the situation involving the Russian gas tanker “Arctic Metagaz” within Libyan territorial waters. In a statement, the authority said the move was coordinated with the operations room, the Coast Guard and port security services, as part of efforts to contain the situation and ensure safe navigation. It added that the team was deployed immediately after the incident was identified, bringing technical expertise and operational capacity to limit potential fallout and reduce risks linked to the vessel. Officials said the intervention aims to safeguard Libya’s territorial waters and minimise possible environmental and maritime hazards.

Source: Libya Observer March 24, 2026 14:41 UTC