A Russian cargo ship named Ursa Major sank in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria following an engine room explosion, as confirmed by the Russian Foreign Ministry. The vessel, constructed in 2009, was operated by Oboronlogistika, a company under the Russian Defense Ministry's military construction operations. The ship was reportedly en route to Vladivostok, carrying two large port cranes on its deck.
The crisis center of the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that 14 out of the 16 crew members were rescued and brought to Spain, while two crew members remain missing. The cause of the engine room explosion has not been determined yet.
Unverified video footage circulating online shows the ship heavily listing to its starboard side, with its bow significantly lower in the water than usual. The ship, previously known as Sparta III according to LSEG data, was transporting specialized port cranes and parts for new ice-breakers to Vladivostok.
Tracking data reveals that the vessel departed from St. Petersburg on December 11 and was last located between Algeria and Spain on Monday. Despite initial plans to head to Vladivostok, the ship had previously visited the Syrian port of Tartous.
The ship's operator, SK-Yug, a subsidiary of Oboronlogistika, has refrained from commenting on the incident. Crew members were reportedly evacuated to the Spanish port of Cartagena, with assistance from various vessels including a Spanish Navy ship. The Ursa Major was scheduled to reach Vladivostok on January 22.
