Sanctioned Russian Cargo Ship Sinks off Spain After Engine Room Explosion
On Monday, a sanctioned Russian cargo ship, the Ursa Major, experienced a catastrophic engine room explosion off the coast of Spain, leading to its eventual sinking. The incident resulted in the disappearance of two crew members.
At approximately 12:30 local time, while navigating through the Strait of Gibraltar in an eastbound direction, the vessel was rocked by the explosion. The ship subsequently slowed down, changed its course, and started to list.
Upon receiving distress signals, a Spanish Navy warship, the Clara Campoamor, along with a good Samaritan vessel named Sparta – another sanctioned Russian cargo ship – rushed to the scene to assist. A total of 14 crew members were successfully rescued, while two individuals remained unaccounted for as of the latest reports.
The Ursa Major was under the operational management of a subsidiary of the sanctioned Russian defense company Oboronlogistika. It played a crucial role in the Russian supply chain to Tartus, Syria, a long-standing naval base for the Russian Navy in the Eastern Mediterranean. Notably, the vessel was included in a set of sanctions related to Ukraine issued by the U.S. Treasury in May 2022.
Following the tragic sinking of the Ursa Major, the Sparta resumed its journey towards Port Said, Egypt, at a reduced speed of six knots.
Potential Strategic Implications
The sinking of the Ursa Major and the continued voyage of the Sparta occur amidst a critical period for Russian operations in the Mediterranean region. With the recent collapse of the Russian-backed regime in Syria, uncertainties loom over Russia’s presence in Tartus. Negotiations reportedly underway between Moscow and the leadership of militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham could determine the future of Russian forces in Syria.
Recent assessments suggest that Russian troops have withdrawn from their inland bases in Syria and are now concentrated at Tartus and the nearby Hmeimim air base. The outcome of ongoing discussions could shape Russia’s stance in coastal Syria moving forward.
Possible Sealift Mission
Notably, imagery captured earlier during the Ursa Major’s voyage revealed the transportation of two substantial crawler cranes on deck. Speculation within the open-source intelligence community suggests that the vessel may have been en route to provide support for the extraction of heavy Russian equipment from Tartus – equipment that it had delivered over several years. Despite declaring Vladivostok as its destination and confirming empty holds, the vessel’s mission raises intriguing possibilities.
As the situation unfolds in the Mediterranean, the fate of Russian operations in Syria and the strategic movements of vessels like the Sparta and the now-sunken Ursa Major remain pivotal points of interest in the evolving geopolitical landscape.