Ursa Major, a Russian cargo ship under US sanctions, has sunk in the Mediterranean following an engine room explosion. The incident highlights ongoing geopolitical tensions, as the vessel was reportedly en route to Russia's Far East with heavy cargo, amid accusations of military logistics involvement in Syria.
Russian Cargo Ship Ursa Major Sinks After Engine Room Explosion Amid US Sanctions
Russian Cargo Ship Ursa Major Sinks After Engine Room Explosion Amid US Sanctions
The sinking of the Ursa Major, a sanctioned Russian cargo ship, has raised questions about maritime safety and international tensions in the Mediterranean region.
A Russian cargo ship, named Ursa Major, has sunk in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria after an explosion occurred in its engine room, confirmed by Russia's foreign ministry. The incident took place shortly after the ship left St. Petersburg, where it had been docked for 12 days. Of the 16 crew members onboard, 14 were rescued and transferred to the Spanish port of Cartagena, while two are currently reported missing.
The ship, owned by Oboronlogistika, was reportedly transporting two cranes each weighing 380 tonnes to Vladivostok on Russia's Far East coast. However, details regarding its cargo and destination have not been verified by independent sources. The Ursa Major was sailing in the same waters as another sanctioned Russian vessel, Sparta, which had recently been observed in the English Channel.
Concerns surrounding the Ursa Major’s movement intensified when Ukrainian military intelligence reported that the Sparta was suspected of transporting military equipment from Syria to Russia due to the changing political landscape following Bashar al-Assad's regime. A Kremlin official indicated that discussions are ongoing with the new Syrian leadership regarding Russia’s military presence in the region.
While the cause of the explosion on the Ursa Major remains unclear, unverified footage shared on social media depicted the ship listing severely prior to its sinking. It was noted that the Ursa Major, also referred to as Sparta III, had been under US sanctions since 2022, directly linked to its owner's involvement in supplying logistics for the Russian military.
Oboronlogistika has characterized the cargo ship as the flagship of its fleet, asserting that it was laden with significant components for icebreakers alongside the cranes destined for Vladivostok. The sinking of the Ursa Major underscores not only safety risks at sea but also the broader geopolitical implications of maritime trade routes between multiple involved nations.
