Russian Cargo Ship Ursa Major Sinks in Mediterranean Sea After Explosion

A Russian cargo ship named Ursa Major met a tragic fate in the Mediterranean Sea following an explosion that tore through its engine room. The incident has left two crew members missing as confirmed by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The vessel, constructed in 2009, was under the control of Oboronlogistika, a company affiliated with the Russian Defence Ministry’s military construction operations. Initially bound for the Russian far eastern port of Vladivostok, the ship was carrying two massive port cranes secured on its deck.

According to the Foreign Ministry’s crisis center, 14 out of the 16 crew members were successfully rescued and transported to Spain. However, the whereabouts of the remaining two crew members remain unknown. The cause of the engine room explosion has yet to be determined.

The Russian embassy in Spain is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the Ursa Major and is in communication with Spanish authorities. Both Oboronlogistika and SK-Yug, listed as the ship’s direct owner and operator, have refrained from commenting on the incident. Notably, these entities were subjected to US sanctions in 2022 due to their connections with Russia’s military.

On December 23, footage captured by a passing ship depicted the Ursa Major heavily tilted to its starboard side, with its bow submerged deeper in the water than usual. The video, published by Russia’s life.ru news outlet, remains unverified.

Oboronlogistika, the ship’s ultimate owner, disclosed on December 20 that the Ursa Major was transporting specialized port cranes earmarked for installation at Vladivostok port, along with components for new ice-breakers. The video footage showcased two enormous cranes secured on the ship’s deck.

Tracking data from LSEG revealed that the vessel departed from St. Petersburg on December 11 and last signaled its location at 2204 GMT on Monday between Algeria and Spain, where it ultimately sank. Initial plans indicated Vladivostok as its next port of call, contrary to its previous visits to the Syrian port of Tartous.

Spanish news outlet El Espanol reported that the rescued crew members were brought to the port of Cartagena, with several vessels, including a Spanish Navy ship, participating in the rescue operation. The Ursa Major was scheduled to reach Vladivostok on January 22.

As investigations continue into the tragic sinking of the Ursa Major, the maritime industry mourns the loss of the vessel and the uncertainty surrounding the missing crew members.

(Source: Reuters – Reporting by Gleb Stolyarov and Andrew Osborn; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Tomasz Janowski)