A Russian cargo vessel, named Ursa Major, has sunk in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria, sparking concerns after two crew members were reported missing. The incident was confirmed by both Spain’s maritime rescue agency and the Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.
The vessel’s crew included 16 individuals, with 14 successfully rescued without injuries and brought ashore in Spain. The Russian Foreign Ministry indicated that the Ursa Major began sinking due to an explosion occurring in its engine room. The ship was operated by SK-Yug, a branch of Oboronlogistika, a shipping and logistics company linked to Russia’s defense ministry, which is under sanctions imposed by the U.S. and the European Union because of its military associations.
Authorities in Spain reported that the cargo ship carried empty containers and two cranes, but they did not provide details about the precise cause of the incident. According to a statement issued by Oboronlogistika, the ship was en route to Vladivostok, a city in Russia’s far east, transporting two heavy cranes, each weighing approximately 380 tons. The Ursa Major had departed from St. Petersburg 12 days prior to its sinking, as per reports from the Russian state news agency Ria Novosti.
Spanish rescue services were alerted around 1 p.m. on Monday when the Ursa Major was situated approximately 57 nautical miles (106 kilometers) from Almería, a region in southeastern Spain. Upon investigation, rescue teams learned that the ship was in poor weather conditions, had an inflatable lifeboat deployed, and was visibly listing to one side. A Russian warship subsequently arrived at the scene later that day to assist with the ongoing rescue efforts; however, the cargo vessel ultimately sank shortly after midnight. The Russian embassy in Spain is looking into the circumstances of the accident and is coordinating with local authorities.
Interestingly, at the same time as the Ursa Major met its fate, another Russian cargo ship named Sparta, also under U.S. sanctions, was navigating the same waters with a reported destination of Port Said in Egypt, according to data from the ship-tracking platform MarineTraffic.com. It is common for Russian vessels sailing from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok to make their way through the Mediterranean Sea and Suez Canal. While the Northern Sea Route through the Arctic is becoming more viable due to global warming, most vessels still prefer to take the southern route during the winter months.
In the aftermath of the sinking, Spanish maritime rescue teams lingered in the vicinity on Tuesday to observe for signs of pollution and to collect any debris that might pose a risk to navigational safety.
