The Maridive-701: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

**Title: Tugboat Abandons 'Arctic Metagaz' Amid Harsh Weather and Technical Failures** **Content:** On the afternoon of April 22, the towing line connected to the "Arctic Metagaz" severed again as severe weather conditions intensified. Consequently, the tugboat 'Maridive 701' has officially departed the scene, navigating westsouthwest due to its own technical challenges. This left the tanker in a precarious situation, completely unaccompanied at the coordinates of 33° 60'N, 020° 02'E, approximately 120 nautical miles north of Benghazi.

**Title: Offshore Tug 'Marridive 701' Assists Damaged Russian Tanker Arctic Metagaz on Course Toward Malta SAR Zone** The offshore tugboat 'Marridive 701' is currently part of a convoy tasked with towing the damaged LNG tanker 'Arctic Metagaz' (IMO: 9243148), which sustained significant damage following a drone attack on March 3. The convoy is navigating a north-northeastern route, initially heading away from critical offshore oil and gas installations and toward international waters. As of late March 30, the convoy was located approximately 80 to 86 nautical miles north-northeast of Misrata, edging closer to the boundaries of Malta's Search and Rescue (SAR) area. This location, near coordinates 33.75° N, has raised concerns and questions about whether Malta might again assume responsibility for the operation. The trajectory of the convoy has taken an unexpected turn, straying from initial plans that suggested a Libyan port, such as Misrata, for the tanker’s stabilization and potential cargo extraction. Instead, the vessels are moving further away from Libyan ports equipped to manage such situations. The ‘Arctic Metagaz’ is facing significant challenges due to its structural instability and the ambiguous status of its cargo, making salvage planning increasingly complex. The International Crisis Group has characterized the situation as high-risk, emphasizing the environmental hazards posed by the tanker and the difficulties in securing and offloading its contents under precarious conditions. Adding to the tension is a severe weather system anticipated to impact the central Mediterranean from April 1 to 3, with forecasts predicting winds reaching up to 46 knots and waves as high as five meters. These conditions could put additional strain on the towing lines and heighten the risk of losing control of the vessel. It's unclear whether the authorities are actively avoiding the coastline with the 'Arctic Metagaz' or simply responding to the challenging towing circumstances. On the weekend of March 28 and 29, conditions worsened dramatically, leading to the snap of the towline connecting the 'Marridive 701' with the tanker, allowing the wreck to drift perilously close to Misrata’s coast—just ten miles away. However, a swift emergency response by Libyan port tugs successfully reestablished the connection. By late March 30, the convoy managed to pull the tanker back to safety in international waters, approximately 86 nautical miles north-northeast of Misrata. With the wreck now situated about 105 nautical miles from Misrata and nearing the boundaries of Malta’s SAR zone, Libya's commitment to the salvage operation appears to have diminished, as they seem to have stepped back from the efforts as of April 1.