Russian Cargo Ship Sinks in Mediterranean Sea; Two Crew Members Missing
A Russian cargo ship, the Ursa Major, has sunk in the Mediterranean Sea between the Spanish city of Águilas and the Algerian city of Oran. The incident was first reported by the Spanish publication La Verdad.
Out of the 16-member crew, 14 have been rescued, while two remain missing, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Russian diplomatic agency has confirmed it is monitoring the situation.
The incident began and unfolded following an explosion in the ship’s engine room, which led to the area being designated as dangerous for navigation. A Russian military ship was dispatched to assist in the rescue efforts, along with several fishing boats in the vicinity and Spain’s maritime rescue service.
The Ursa Major was officially en route from Saint Petersburg to Vladivostok, having set sail on December 11 and expected to arrive on January 22. The ship was reportedly carrying empty containers at the time of the incident.
In a related development, "Mediazona" reported that five Russian cargo ships, including three large military landing ships and two dry cargo ships owned by the company "Oboronlogistika," had recently entered the Mediterranean Sea. Analysts suggest these ships may be part of an effort to evacuate Russian bases in Syria’s Tartus and Hmeimim.
The Ursa Major and the Sparta, another cargo ship, have long been involved in transporting goods along the so-called "Syrian Express" route, which supplies Russian forces in Syria.
In a statement, the company "Oboronlogistika" claimed that the Ursa Major had set off on its next journey to the Far East with a large project cargo, including two 380-ton cranes destined for the expansion of a terminal in Vladivostok, and 45 tons of lock gates for new icebreakers, as part of its state tasks for developing port infrastructure and the Northern Sea Route.
