TRIPOLI, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The National Oil Corporation (NOC) of Libya announced on Saturday all Libyan oil facilities, including platforms and ports, are safe from any pollution or risks, when a damaged Russian gas tanker is drifting toward the Libyan coast.

In a statement, the NOC said an emergency contract with a company was issued to address the situation of the Russian tanker carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) that recently sustained damage off the Libyan coast, rendering it uncontrollable.

Afterward, the damaged vessel was seen gradually approaching the Libyan coast due to wind and waves, and the NOC acted swiftly to mitigate the damage caused by its presence in Libyan territorial waters and minimize the risk of pollution to the Libyan coastline, it said.

The NOC noted that all Libyan oil facilities, including platforms and ports, are safe from any pollution or risks in this regard.

The 277-meter-long tanker, named "Arctic Metagas," was carrying an estimated 62,000 metric tonnes of LNG when it went down in waters between Libya and Malta on March 3, according to a navigational circular reported by the Libyan News Agency. ■