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Italy: Alert for Russian methane tanker (loaded with gas) adrift near Linosa, risk of environmental disaster in the Mediterranean (www.greenmemag.com)
submitted 3 weeks ago by randomname@scribe.disroot.org to c/world@lemmy.world
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cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/7731699

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Days of tension grip the Mediterranean, where an environmental disaster looms. In the Sicily Channel, the Russian methane tanker Arctic Metagaz drifts helplessly: a 277-meter colossus carrying over 60,000 tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and, according to reports, 900 tons of diesel fuel.

A genuine ticking time bomb that, if it were to explode, would cause a catastrophe. The vessel currently sits about 26 nautical miles from Linosa and roughly 39 from Lampedusa.

...

The Arctic Metagaz methane tanker, which departed February 24 from Murmansk, Russia, was struck in the Mediterranean by a series of explosions occurring between March 3 and 4. Maltese authorities intervened promptly to rescue the crew of about 30 people, but the damaged cargo vessel remained without control.

...

The Arctic Metagaz is reportedly part of the so-called “Russian shadow fleet,” a network of oil and methane tankers (operating through shell companies) used to transport Russian hydrocarbons while circumventing Western sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.

...

As confirmed by Lampedusa and Linosa Mayor Filippo Mannino, the Italian Navy is monitoring the drifting cargo ship’s situation along with an anti-pollution vessel and a tugboat. Meanwhile, Maltese authorities have issued a navigation warning, recommending that vessels maintain at least a 5-mile distance from the drifting Arctic Metagaz.

In the event of a spill of 60,000 tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and 900 tons of diesel fuel, the scenario would be dramatic for the Mediterranean ecosystem, already compromised by plastic pollution and global warming. It would be extremely difficult to truly contain the damage from an environmental disaster of this magnitude.

...

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[-] Paragone@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

I think people would be surprised, but if that can't be recovered, it is FAR better for global-warming if it is burned-off, than if it is allowed into the atmosphere as methane:

Methane's CO2-equivalent, in the short-term, is over 80x as strong as CO2.

So, that'd mean about 4,872,000 tons of CO2-equivalent-release, if 60kt of methane were released.

https://ghginstitute.org/ipcc-ar6-methane-gwp-tables/

see the ROW "Methane" & the COLUMN "GPW-20" which is the 20-year-equivalent to CO2.

See, also, in an earlier column, that its average lifespan is actually 11.8 years, so the 20y equivalent is underestimating its short-term effect, badly, since much of it has been destroyed in the upper-atmophere's UV by 20y.

Just providing some counter-intuitive context.

That scientist who published that methane HAS to be stopped: leaks of it are simply TOO effective at wrecking our viability, & then his paper was attacked by ALL the establishment/incumbents/lobbyists .. he was telling the truth.

https://www.research.howarthlab.org/publications/Howarth_LNG_assessment_preprint_archived_2023-1103.pdf

Please read that abstract, to understand that this isn't internet-bullshit, that is science.

_ /\ _

[-] FaceDeer@fedia.io 1 points 3 weeks ago

A slick of liquid methane would be devastating. Imagine all that methane washing up on the shores.

[-] nova_ad_vitum@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Methane is a gas at room temp. It's only liquid under pressure. What even is this article?

Methane is however an extremely powerful greenhouse gas (20x as potent as CO2) so the best thing to do is to evac everyone and burn it off .

[-] gergolippai@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

don't forget your paper straws, people

this post was submitted on 13 Mar 2026
5 points (100.0% liked)

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