A Russian cargo ship, Ursa Major, sank in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria on Monday, leaving two crew members missing. The vessel was carrying two cranes and empty containers when it experienced an engine room explosion, causing it to take on water. Spanish authorities rescued 14 crew members from the ship’s lifeboat, but two others are still unaccounted for.
The incident occurred roughly 57 nautical miles off the coast of AlmerÃa in southern Spain, where the vessel was reported to have poor weather conditions and a lifeboat in the water. A Russian warship arrived on the scene later that day to assist with rescue operations, but it’s unclear what caused the explosion.
The Ursa Major was built in 2009 and owned by SK-Yug, a subsidiary of Oboronlogistika, a Russian shipping company sanctioned for its ties to Russia’s military. The ship was headed to Vladivostok, Russia’s eastern city, with two cranes weighing 380 tonnes each on board.
Russia’s foreign ministry said the explosion occurred in the engine room, and authorities are investigating the incident. A nearby ship reported seeing footage of the vessel heavily leaning towards one side before it sank around midnight local time.
The incident comes amid uncertainty over Russia’s military presence in Syria, with reports suggesting that Moscow is evacuating its weapons from the country.
Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-25/russian-cargo-ship-ursa-major-sinks-in-mediterranean-sea/104762482