Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sinks in Mediterranean, 2 crew members missing
The Russian cargo ship Ursa Major. (Marinetraffic Photo)
A Russian cargo ship named Ursa Major sank in international waters between Spain’s Murcia region and Algeria following an explosion in its engine room, authorities reported. Fourteen crew members were rescued, while two remain missing.
Explosion causes shipwreck in Mediterranean waters
According to reports from the Russian Foreign Ministry and Spanish sources, the explosion occurred in the ship’s engine room, leading to the vessel’s sinking.
The shipwreck happened in international waters, and the rescued crew members were transported to the Spanish port of Cartagena for medical evaluation and assistance.
The Ursa Major, built in 2009, had departed from Saint Petersburg approximately two weeks ago and was en route to the Russian port of Vladivostok, with an expected arrival date of Jan. 22.
Crew rescue and ongoing search efforts
The 14 rescued crew members, all Russian nationals, were safely brought ashore by Spanish rescue services. Search and rescue operations are ongoing for the two missing crew members.
Russian authorities, including the Situation and Crisis Center (SKTs) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are monitoring the situation closely alongside maritime authorities.
Cargo and ownership details
The Ursa Major was operated by the Russian company SK-Yug, a subsidiary of Oboronlogistics.
According to a statement by Oboronlogistics issued on Dec. 20, the vessel was transporting specialized port cranes intended for installation in Vladivostok, along with parts for new icebreaker ships.
Both SK-Yug and Oboronlogistics have declined to comment further on the incident.
Tracking data and voyage information
LSEG ship tracking data indicates that the vessel departed Saint Petersburg on Dec. 11. Its signal was last detected on Monday night at 10:04 p.m. GMT in waters between Algeria and Spain.
While the ship’s official destination was Vladivostok, it had previously made port calls in Tartous, Syria. However, this voyage was set directly for Vladivostok.
