The Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sank in the Mediterranean Sea following an engine room explosion, leaving two crew members missing. Fourteen crew members were rescued, according to the Russian foreign ministry.
Explosion and Rescue Operations
The Ursa Major, built in 2009, experienced an explosion in its engine room on December 23 while sailing between Spain and Algeria. The Russian foreign ministry confirmed that the ship sank shortly after the incident.
Spain’s maritime rescue service received the ship’s distress signal about 57 miles off the coast of Almería. Rescue teams deployed two vessels and a helicopter to assist. They successfully evacuated 14 crew members and brought them to the Spanish port of Cartagena. However, two crew members remain missing, and the cause of the explosion is still unknown.
Unverified video footage from Russia’s Life.ru shows the ship listing heavily to its starboard side, with its bow submerged. Witnesses reported worsening weather conditions during the rescue operation, complicating efforts to stabilize the situation.
Background and Military Connections
The Ursa Major was operated by Oboronlogistika, a company linked to Russia’s Ministry of Defense, responsible for military logistics and construction. At the time of the incident, the ship was transporting two large port cranes and reportedly empty containers. These cranes were intended for installation in Vladivostok, according to Oboronlogistika’s earlier statements.
The vessel departed from St. Petersburg on December 11 and was reportedly bound for Vladivostok. Unlike previous voyages, it did not list Tartous, Syria, as a destination. Tartous is a frequent stop for Russian military-linked ships. The Ursa Major and its operator, Oboronlogistika, are under U.S. sanctions due to their ties to Russia’s military activities. The sanctions, imposed in 2022, also extend to the ship itself.
Ongoing Investigations and Related Incidents
Russia’s embassy in Spain is investigating the circumstances of the sinking in coordination with Spanish authorities. Maritime data showed the Ursa Major transmitting signals until late Monday night, shortly before the explosion. The incident underscores the risks faced by Russian cargo ships amid heightened international scrutiny.
Separately, Ukraine’s military intelligence service, HUR, reported technical issues on another Russian cargo vessel, the Sparta. The Sparta encountered problems near Portugal but resumed its journey after repairs. HUR claimed the ship was heading to Syria to transport military equipment and ammunition, although Reuters could not verify this assertion.
The sinking of the Ursa Major highlights growing concerns about Russian maritime operations and the safety of their logistics routes. Investigations into the incident will determine whether operational failures or external factors contributed to the ship’s fate.