A Russian cargo ship identified as Ursa Major has tragically sunk in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria after a catastrophic explosion in its engine room. The Russian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that 14 crew members were successfully rescued and taken to shores in Cartagena, Spain, while two others remain unaccounted for.
Russian Cargo Ship Ursa Major Sinks After Engine Explosion in Mediterranean
Russian Cargo Ship Ursa Major Sinks After Engine Explosion in Mediterranean
The Ursa Major, a sanctioned Russian cargo vessel, has sunk in the Mediterranean following an engine room blast, with rescue efforts underway for the crew.
The ship set sail from St. Petersburg approximately 12 days earlier, carrying two heavy cranes, each weighing 380 tonnes, intended for Vladivostok in Russia's Far East, although details regarding its exact destination remain unconfirmed. Before the sinking, Spain’s maritime rescue agency had reported that the crew was located on a lifeboat, while a nearby Russian warship took over the rescue operations.
Ursa Major was reportedly in close proximity to another sanctioned Russian vessel, Sparta, which had also been spotted in the English Channel. Earlier intelligence from Ukrainian military sources suggested that Sparta was on a mission to retrieve military equipment from Syria amidst the ongoing geopolitical crisis in the region. Following the explosion, Marine transport monitoring revealed that Ursa Major's last known destination was Vladivostok, with its latest docking in Tartous, Syria, occurring earlier in July.
This incident is reminiscent of ongoing issues faced by Sparta, which had recently encountered its own set of mechanical troubles off the coast of Portugal. As investigations continue into the cause of Ursa Major's explosion, video footage captured by the tanker Ross Sea displays the vessel listing at a dangerous angle before ultimately sinking at approximately 1:20 AM GMT on Tuesday.
Ursa Major, which was originally named Sparta III, was placed under U.S. sanctions in 2022 due to its owner's involvement in supplying cargo to the Russian military. The ship has been described by its owner, Oboronlogistika, as a crucial asset in their fleet.
This sinking marks a significant event amid heightened tensions between Russia and Western nations, particularly in the context of Ukrainian military operations and the geopolitical situation involving Syria.
As the investigation unfolds, further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the explosion and the status of the missing crew members are anticipated.
Ursa Major was reportedly in close proximity to another sanctioned Russian vessel, Sparta, which had also been spotted in the English Channel. Earlier intelligence from Ukrainian military sources suggested that Sparta was on a mission to retrieve military equipment from Syria amidst the ongoing geopolitical crisis in the region. Following the explosion, Marine transport monitoring revealed that Ursa Major's last known destination was Vladivostok, with its latest docking in Tartous, Syria, occurring earlier in July.
This incident is reminiscent of ongoing issues faced by Sparta, which had recently encountered its own set of mechanical troubles off the coast of Portugal. As investigations continue into the cause of Ursa Major's explosion, video footage captured by the tanker Ross Sea displays the vessel listing at a dangerous angle before ultimately sinking at approximately 1:20 AM GMT on Tuesday.
Ursa Major, which was originally named Sparta III, was placed under U.S. sanctions in 2022 due to its owner's involvement in supplying cargo to the Russian military. The ship has been described by its owner, Oboronlogistika, as a crucial asset in their fleet.
This sinking marks a significant event amid heightened tensions between Russia and Western nations, particularly in the context of Ukrainian military operations and the geopolitical situation involving Syria.
As the investigation unfolds, further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the explosion and the status of the missing crew members are anticipated.
