A Russian cargo ship under US sanctions, Ursa Major, has sunk in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria after an engine room explosion, Russia’s foreign ministry has confirmed.
Fourteen crew members were rescued and brought safely to the Spanish port of Cartagena, but two crew members remain missing. The incident occurred as the ship was traveling between Oran, Algeria, and Águilas, Spain.
The ship, owned by Oboronlogistika, departed St. Petersburg 12 days ago, reportedly en route to Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East with cargo that included two port cranes weighing 380 tonnes each. However, independent sources have not confirmed its destination.
Marine tracking systems indicated that Ursa Major had recently been navigating in the same region as another sanctioned Russian vessel, Sparta. Both ships were seen traversing the English Channel last week under escort. Ukrainian intelligence recently suggested that Sparta was involved in transporting military equipment from Syria’s Tartous naval base amid ongoing geopolitical changes.
The cause of the explosion on Ursa Major remains unknown. Verified video footage captured by the tanker Ross Sea showed the ship listing heavily before it sank early Tuesday morning. Built in 2009, the vessel was sanctioned in 2022 for its role in Russian military logistics.
Oboronlogistika described Ursa Major as the flagship of its fleet, noting it was also carrying 45-tonne hatch covers for icebreakers. The incident highlights the ongoing operational risks faced by Russian ships amid international sanctions and heightened scrutiny.
