MADRID, Dec 24 (Alliance News): A Russian cargo ship, Ursa Major, sank in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria following an explosion in its engine room.
The explosion, which occurred while the vessel was en route from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok, has resulted in two crew members going missing, as confirmed by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The Ursa Major, a 2009-built ship operated by Oboronlogistika—a company linked to the Russian Defense Ministry—was transporting two giant port cranes for installation at Vladivostok, alongside parts for new icebreakers.
The ship’s crisis center reported that 14 out of the 16 crew members had been rescued and brought to Spain.
Emergency response teams, including the Spanish Navy, took part in the rescue operation, bringing the survivors to the port of Cartagena.
The exact cause of the engine room explosion is yet to be determined, though unverified footage of the sinking ship shows it listing severely with its bow much lower in the water.
The ship was last located between Spain and Algeria, having departed from St. Petersburg on December 11. The Ursa Major was expected to reach Vladivostok on January 22, 2025.
