Russian Cargo Ship Sinks in Mediterranean After Engine Room Explosion
A Russian cargo ship named Ursa Major has sunk in the Mediterranean Sea, located between Spain and Algeria, following a significant explosion in its engine room, as reported by the Russian foreign ministry on Tuesday. Two crew members are currently reported missing, while the remaining 14 have been successfully rescued and transported to Spain, according to the ministry's statement.
Ship tracking data from LSEG indicates that Ursa Major departed from the Russian port of St. Petersburg on December 11. The last transmission from the vessel occurred at 2204 GMT on Monday, while it was sailing in the waters between Algeria and Spain.
Initially, when leaving St. Petersburg, Ursa Major had indicated that its next destination would be the Russian port of Vladivostok, rather than the Syrian port of Tartous, which it has visited in the past. The ship is operated and owned by a company known as SKYug, which is a part of Oboronlogistics.
Attempts to obtain a comment regarding the sinking from Oboronlogistics and SKYug were unsuccessful. However, Oboronlogistics released a statement on December 20, confirming that the ship was transporting specialized port cranes intended for installation in Vladivostok, alongside components for new icebreakers.
The circumstances surrounding the explosion and subsequent sinking are under investigation, as efforts continue to locate the missing crew members. This incident raises concerns about maritime safety and the ongoing operational conditions faced by cargo vessels traversing the region.
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