A Russian cargo ship, Ursa Major, sank in the Mediterranean Sea after an explosion in its engine room, resulting in two crew members still missing. The ship, built in 2009 and controlled by Oboronlogistika, was en route to Vladivostok with two giant port cranes on board. Fourteen of the 16 crew members were rescued and brought to Spain, but the cause of the explosion remains unknown. The Russian embassy in Spain is investigating the incident.
The vessel had departed from St. Petersburg on December 11 and was last seen between Algeria and Spain. Unverified video footage showed the ship heavily listing to its starboard side before sinking. Spain’s Maritime Rescue Service received a distress signal and coordinated the rescue efforts, with two vessels and a helicopter sent to the scene. The surviving crew members were taken to the Spanish port of Cartagena.
Oboronlogistika and SK-Yug, the ship's operator, declined to comment on the incident. Both entities, along with the Ursa Major, were sanctioned by the United States in 2022 for their ties to Russia’s military. A Russian warship later arrived at the scene to take charge of the rescue operations.
Separately, Ukraine’s military intelligence reported that another Russian cargo ship, Sparta, had encountered technical problems off the coast of Portugal but had resumed its journey to Syria. The Ursa Major’s sinking adds to the complexities of maritime operations in the region, highlighting the risks faced by vessels in transit.
Comments