A Russian cargo ship, “Ursa Major,” sank in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria following an engine room explosion, leaving two crew members missing, according to a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.
The vessel, built in 2009, was operated by Oboronlogistika, a company linked to the Russian Defence Ministry’s military construction operations. At the time of the incident, it was transporting two giant port cranes and parts for new ice-breakers from the Russian port of Saint Petersburg to Vladivostok.
The Foreign Ministry reported that 14 of the ship’s 16 crew members were rescued and brought to Spain, while the search for the remaining two continues. The cause of the explosion remains unclear.
Unverified footage published by Russia’s “life.ru” news outlet shows the vessel listing heavily to its starboard side, with its bow significantly lower in the water. The video, reportedly filmed on December 23, also shows the two massive cranes secured to the ship’s deck.
The ship, previously known as “Sparta III,” departed Saint Petersburg on December 11, according to LSEG ship tracking data, and was last detected sending a signal late Monday night near Algeria and Spain. Although its stated destination was Vladivostok, the vessel had previously called at the Syrian port of Tartous.
Spanish news outlet “El Español” reported that the rescued crew members were evacuated to the Spanish port of Cartagena. Several vessels, including a Spanish Navy ship, participated in the rescue operation.
Oboronlogistika and its operator SK-Yug have declined to comment on the sinking. The “Ursa Major” had been scheduled to arrive in Vladivostok on January 22.
As authorities continue to investigate the incident, questions remain about the ship’s condition, cargo, and the circumstances leading to the explosion.
Melissa Enoch
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