A Russian cargo ship, Ursa Major, sank in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria following an engine room explosion, leaving two crew members missing, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The 2009-built vessel, operated by Oboronlogistika, part of the Russian Ministry of Defense's military construction division, was transporting two giant port cranes to the Russian port of Vladivostok. The engine room explosion occurred while the ship was en route, and 14 out of 16 crew members were rescued and brought to Spain. However, two crew members are still missing, and the cause of the explosion remains unclear.
Russian ship Ursa Major sank following a reported explosion in the engine room in the Mediterranean Sea
— FocuSeaTV - Maritime News (@focuseatv) December 24, 2024
Video footage, reportedly taken on December 23, showed the ship listing heavily to its starboard side, with its bow submerged lower than usual. The ship, formerly known as Sparta III, had departed from Saint Petersburg on December 11 and was expected to reach Vladivostok by January 22, carrying specialized cranes and parts for new ice-breakers.
The Spanish Navy and other vessels participated in the rescue operation, with the crew evacuated to Cartagena.
