Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sinks in the Mediterranean Sea, two crew members missing, accident due to explosion in engine room

Madrid: Russian cargo ship 'Ursa Major' sinks in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria, two crew members missing in the accident. Spain's maritime rescue agency and the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the incident on Tuesday.

During the accident, 14 crew members were safely evacuated through lifeboats to the port of Cartagena, Spain. According to the Russian Ministry, this accident occurred after an explosion in the engine room.

Ursa Major left St. Petersburg 12 days ago

The ship was owned by SK-Yug, a subsidiary of Russian shipping and logistics company OboronLogistics. Spanish officials said the ship was carrying empty containers and two cranes. In a statement in December, OboronLogistics said the cargo ship was headed to the Russian Far Eastern city of Vladivostok, carrying two cranes weighing 380 tonnes each. Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported that Ursa Major had left St. Petersburg 12 days ago.

ship explosion

Let us tell you that the largest cargo ship of the Russian Army's logistics fleet sank in the Mediterranean Sea after an explosion in the engine room. The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its website on Tuesday that Ursa Major was lost in international waters after the explosion. Its two crew members are missing and 14 others have been rescued and taken to the port of Cartagena, Spain.

Made voyages to the Arctic, Middle East and Asia

According to information posted on December 3 on the website of Oboronlogistika, the ship's crane equipment was repaired in November before the usual voyage with heavy cargo to the east of Russia. According to the company, it had previously made voyages to the Middle East and Asia as well as the Northern Sea Route through the Arctic.

largest cargo ship

However, no information has been received yet about the cause of the explosion. According to the company's website, Ursa Major, which had a carrying capacity of 1,200 tonnes and could fit 120 vehicles on its deck. Operated by Obronlogistika, a company belonging to the Russian Defense Ministry, it was the largest cargo ship carrying military and civilian cargo.

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