Russian Cargo Ship Sinks in Mediterranean Sea Following Engine Room Explosion

A Russian cargo ship named Ursa Major sank in the Mediterranean Sea after an explosion occurred in its engine room, leaving two crew members missing, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The ship, built in 2009 and operated by Oboronlogistika, a company linked to the Russian Defense Ministry, was reportedly transporting two large port cranes to Vladivostok.

The Foreign Ministry’s crisis center reported that 14 out of the 16 crew members were rescued and taken to Spain, while the cause of the explosion remains unknown. The Russian embassy in Spain is investigating the incident and is in contact with local authorities.

Oboronlogistika and SK-Yug, the ship’s direct owner, declined to comment on the sinking. Both companies, along with the Ursa Major, were sanctioned by the US in 2022 due to their connections to the Russian military.

Unverified footage showed the ship listing heavily to one side before it sank. Spain’s Maritime Rescue Service received a distress signal from the Ursa Major when it was about 57 miles off the coast of Almeria. They dispatched two vessels and a helicopter to the scene, where the surviving crew members were taken to Cartagena.

The ship was reportedly carrying empty containers along with the cranes. A Russian warship later arrived to assist with the rescue operations.

Oboronlogistika stated that the Ursa Major, previously known as Sparta III, was transporting specialized cranes and parts for ice-breakers. The vessel had departed from St. Petersburg on December 11 and was last tracked sending a signal between Algeria and Spain before sinking.

In a related note, Ukraine’s military intelligence reported that another Russian cargo ship, Sparta, encountered technical issues off the coast of Portugal but has since resolved them and is heading to Syria to collect military supplies. However, these claims have not been independently verified.