US-sanctioned Russian ship sinks after explosion in engine room

US-sanctioned Russian ship sinks after explosion in engine room

The Russian cargo ship Ursa Major has reportedly sunk in the Mediterranean Sea, situated between Spain and Algeria, following an explosion in its engine room, as confirmed by Russia’s foreign ministry.

Reports indicate that 14 crew members were successfully rescued and transported to the Spanish port of Cartagena, while two others remain unaccounted for.

According to reports from the Russian news agency Interfax, Ursa Major departed from the port of St Petersburg 12 days ago.

The ship’s owner stated that it was en route to Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East, transporting two 380-tonne cranes for the port. However, independent confirmation of the destination remains unverified.

Ursa Major encountered difficulties in the Mediterranean when it was near another sanctioned Russian vessel, Sparta. Last week, both ships were observed navigating through the English Channel, allegedly under escort.

Earlier this month, Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) indicated that Sparta was en route to Russia’s naval base located on the Syrian coast at Tartous to relocate military equipment from Syria following the potential collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

A Kremlin official confirmed on Monday that Russia is engaged in discussions with the new leadership in Syria regarding the future of its two military installations across both diplomatic and military spheres.

Oboronlogistika, the owner of Ursa Major, has played a significant role in transporting cargo to Tartous. However, reports indicate that Sparta’s destination on Tuesday was Port Said in Egypt.

On Monday, the HUR reported that Sparta experienced a breakdown off the coast of Portugal; however, the issue has since been resolved. The designation Ursa Major, previously called Sparta III, raises questions regarding the specific ship.

The cause of the explosion on Ursa Major, which occurred while traversing the airspace between Oran in Algeria and the Spanish town of Aguilas, remains unclear. Unverified video footage emerged on Monday, depicting the ship listing at a precarious angle.

The vessel, constructed in 2009, faced sanctions following Russia’s extensive military incursion into Ukraine in 2022 due to the ship owner’s involvement in transporting supplies to the Russian armed forces.

Oboronlogistika reported that the cargo ship, identified as the flagship of its fleet, was transporting 45-tonne hatch covers intended for icebreakers and large cranes destined for the port in Vladivostok.

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