The government on Friday was holding a meeting at Premier Giorgia Meloni's office at Palazzo Chigi to address the situation regarding the 'Arctic Metagaz', a Russian tanker carrying a cargo of diesel fuel and LNG that is adrift in waters close to the Italian island of Linosa in the Pelagie archipelago, sources said.
The ship is drifting east, with currents taking it towards Malta, sources said.
Part of Russia's shadow fleet used to dodge the sanctions imposed against the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Arctic Metagaz's crew reportedly lost control of the ship following an explosion last week.
The crew reportedly abandoned the ship, which may have been attacked by a Ukrainian drone, in a lifeboat.
Sources said the Italian Navy has a tug and anti-pollution vessel near the tanker as a precaution.
