On December 24, 2024, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that a Russian cargo ship named “Ursa Major” sank in the Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday, December 24th, following an engine room explosion. At present, two crew members are missing.
The vessel, built in 2009, is owned by Oboronlogistika, a company under the military construction department of the Russian Ministry of Defense. Prior to the accident, the ship was transporting two large port cranes to the port of Vladivostok in the Russian Far East.
The Crisis Center of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that out of the 16 crew members on board, 14 have been rescued and taken to Spain, while 2 remain missing. The statement did not specify the exact cause of the engine room explosion.
According to the Russian news agency RIA, the Russian Embassy in Spain reported that the sinking of the ship is under investigation, and they are in contact with the Spanish authorities.
Reuters reported that Oboronlogistika was sanctioned by the United States in 2022 for its ties to the Russian military, and the “Ursa Major” was also on the sanction list. Oboronlogistika declined to comment on the shipwreck incident.
An unconfirmed video posted on the Russian news website life.ru on Tuesday showed the “Ursa Major” listing heavily to starboard, with the bow much lower in the water than usual. The footage was captured by a passing vessel on December 23.
The Spanish Maritime Rescue Agency stated that they received a distress signal from the “Ursa Major” on Monday when the vessel was approximately 57 miles off the coast of Almeria.
The company stated that they have contacted a nearby vessel that reported severe weather conditions, noting that the “Ursa Major” was listing to starboard with a lifeboat falling into the water.
Two vessels and a helicopter have been dispatched to the scene, and the 14 surviving crew members have been taken to the port of Cartagena in Spain.
Reports indicate that the ship was carrying empty containers and two port cranes on its deck.
Furthermore, a Russian warship later arrived at the scene and took over the rescue operation.