A maritime tragedy has rocked the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Spain, with the sinking of a Russian transport ship, following an explosion in the engine room. Russian authorities reported on Telegram that two crew members are missing, while 14 others were rescued and brought to a port in Muica.
The vessel in question, named Ursa Major, had left the port of Saint Petersburg in Russia on December 11, and was last seen transmitting a signal on Monday evening between Algeria and Spain. According to Fatshimetrie data, the ship had declared the Russian port of Vladivostok as its next port of call, and not the Syrian port of Tartus where it had stopped in the past.
The operator and owner of the vessel, the company SK-Yug, part of Oboronlogistika, declined to comment on the incident. The ship’s captain reportedly said it was carrying empty containers at the time of the accident, according to Spanish media. However, analysts believe the ship may have been involved in a mission to evacuate soldiers and equipment from Russian bases in Syria.
The nature of the ship’s cargo at the time of the incident is still unclear. These tragic events highlight once again the risks and challenges faced by seafarers and ships in the world’s seas.
Maritime safety and emergency procedures on board ships remain crucial to preventing such disasters. It is essential that thorough investigations are carried out to understand the causes of the explosion and sinking of the Ursa Major, in order to improve safety measures at sea and protect the lives of seafarers.
As the search for the missing crew members and the extent of the damage continue, our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea.