Jerry Jackson A Russian cargo ship, Ursa Major, sank in the Mediterranean following an engine room explosion. Two crew members are missing, while 14 were rescued, the Russian foreign ministry confirmed.
Engine Room Blast Triggers Maritime Tragedy
The Ursa Major, built in 2009, sank on December 23 between Spain and Algeria after an explosion in its engine room. Spain’s maritime rescue service received a distress signal from the vessel, located 57 miles off AlmerÃa.
Rescue teams deployed two ships and a helicopter to the scene. They evacuated 14 crew members, who were later brought to Cartagena, Spain. Despite these efforts, two crew members remain missing. Video footage showed the ship listing heavily to one side, and adverse weather conditions complicated rescue operations. The cause of the explosion remains unclear.
Vessel’s Mission and Military Links
Owned by Oboronlogistika, a Russian defense ministry affiliate, the Ursa Major was transporting two giant port cranes. The cranes were reportedly bound for Vladivostok, alongside empty containers. The ship departed St. Petersburg on December 11 and did not list its previous stop, Tartous in Syria, as a destination.
Both Oboronlogistika and the Ursa Major are under U.S. sanctions due to their ties to Russian military logistics. The company had earlier stated that the cranes were intended for installation at Vladivostok’s port and as components for new icebreakers.
Global Implications and Separate Incidents
The Russian embassy in Spain has launched an investigation into the sinking, in cooperation with Spanish authorities. Maritime tracking data showed the vessel’s last signal on Monday night before it sank. A Russian warship later arrived to oversee rescue operations.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s intelligence service, HUR, reported issues with another Russian cargo ship, Sparta, near Portugal. The vessel, carrying military equipment and ammunition, resumed its voyage to Syria after resolving technical problems. Although HUR provided these details, Reuters could not independently verify them.
The Ursa Major incident raises concerns about the safety and operations of Russian-linked vessels amid heightened geopolitical tensions. Investigators aim to uncover the full story behind the ship’s tragic sinking.