The Ursa Major, a Russian cargo ship under US sanctions, sank in the Mediterranean Sea after a catastrophic engine room explosion, resulting in a rescue operation for the crew and raising questions about maritime operations of sanctioned vessels.
Russian Cargo Ship Ursa Major Sinks in Mediterranean Following Engine Explosion
Russian Cargo Ship Ursa Major Sinks in Mediterranean Following Engine Explosion
The Ursa Major was on a mission from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok when tragedy struck, highlighting concerns over sanctioned Russian vessels.
A Russian cargo ship, Ursa Major, has tragically sunk in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria after an explosion occurred in its engine room, as confirmed by the Russian foreign ministry. Fourteen crew members were safely rescued and transported to the Spanish port of Cartagena, though two remain missing.
The Ursa Major embarked from St. Petersburg twelve days ago, according to reports from the news agency Interfax. The ship was reportedly en route to Vladivostok, carrying two cranes, each weighing 380 tonnes, although independent verification of its destination has not been confirmed.
Notably, the Ursa Major was located in the same vicinity as another sanctioned Russian vessel, Sparta, when it encountered difficulties. Earlier reports indicated that both ships were seen navigating the English Channel last week under protective escort. In a development earlier this month, Ukrainian military intelligence hinted that the Sparta was directed towards Russia’s naval base in Tartous, Syria, to facilitate the removal of military supplies following the regime change in Syria. Further communications between Russia and Syria regarding military installations have also been revealed.
Ursa Major, owned by Oboronlogistika, a company with known ties to military cargo transport to Tartous, was allegedly involved in transporting 45-tonne hatch covers for icebreakers in addition to the cranes bound for Vladivostok.
The precise cause of the explosion that led to Ursa Major’s sinking remains unclear, as it was traversing the waters between Oran, Algeria, and Aguilas, Spain. Video footage, whose authenticity is yet to be verified, showed the ship listing considerably just before it sank.
Built in 2009, Ursa Major had been placed under US sanctions in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, primarily due to the involvement of its owner in supplying cargo to Russian military operations.
