A Russian cargo ship sank in the Mediterranean Sea on Monday after three explosions, with the vessel’s owner blaming an “act of terrorism”. The Ursa Major, built in 2009, was carrying a cargo of port cranes and other equipment when it ran into trouble. Two crew members were missing, and 14 survivors were taken to the Spanish port of Cartagena.
The ship had been targeted by three consecutive explosions that ripped through its engine room, causing it to take on water and listing sharply. Despite not being overloaded, the vessel sank about 57 miles off the coast of Almeira. The owner, Oboronlogistika, cited the Russian Defence Ministry’s military construction operations as saying the incident was a “terrorist act”.
The Ursa Major had been en route to the Russian port of Vladivostok from St. Petersburg when it sank. Spain’s Maritime Rescue Service received a distress signal from the ship on Monday and sent vessels and a helicopter to assist.
The sinking of the Ursa Major is the latest incident involving a Russian vessel after the country’s military was sanctioned by the United States in 2022 for its ties to Russia’s military operations.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-cargo-ship-which-sank-off-spanish-coast-was-victim-act-terrorism-ria-2024-12-25