On the night of December 23, 2024, the Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sank in the Mediterranean Sea, following a catastrophic explosion in its engine room. The vessel was on its way to Vladivostok after departing from Saint Petersburg twelve days earlier, reportedly carrying port cranes and equipment for iceberg breakers. The incident occurred approximately 62 nautical miles off the coast of Cartagena, Spain, which has prompted considerable rescue efforts and investigations.
According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, out of the 16 crew members aboard, 14 were rescued, but two remain missing. The ship issued a distress signal early Monday morning, informing authorities it was listing and had launched one of its lifeboats. The Spanish Maritime Rescue Service swiftly dispatched helicopters and rescue boats to the scene, and the crew members who were rescued were taken to Cartagena, where they received medical attention from Red Cross workers.
The Ursa Major is owned by Oboronlogistika, a maritime company linked to the Russian Ministry of Defense. This company has previously been sanctioned by the U.S. for its involvement in military logistics, particularly for transporting military supplies to conflict zones. The U.S. State Department identified several maritime companies, including Oboronlogistika, as engaging in the transport of weaponry to Syria and Crimea.
Reports suggest the ship was not just transporting commercial cargo. According to the British newspaper The Sun, intelligence assessments indicated the Ursa Major might have been involved in secret operations directed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, potentially seeking to retrieve military equipment from Syria following the recent ousting of Bashar al-Assad. This scenario adds complexity to the sinking, blurring lines between military logistics and commercial operations.
Witnesses and nearby vessels reported terrible weather conditions during the incident, complicantly the rescue efforts. The conditions were so severe it was noted several crews were busy assisting others, which amplified the dangers involved. It wasn't until late at night, after the ship had submerged, with the crew being secured for medical evaluation at the nearby Spanish port, where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Authorities are probing the explosion and subsequent sinking under the jurisdiction of the Russian Investigation Committee. The committee is pursuing charges based on alleged violations of safety standards, with preliminary investigations pointing to the explosion occurring shortly before the vessel began to list uncontrollably.
On the military front, U.S. and Ukrainian intelligence agencies have expressed growing concerns about Russian maritime activities, particularly tied to the Ursa Major. The monitoring of maritime routes used by Russian vessels has intensified, especially as they transition through sensitive geopolitical areas. It's noted by intelligence officials, the Ursa Major along with similar ships has been reported to make such trips routinely, raising alarms about the potential transport of sensitive cargo.
The operation established to retrieve survivors was covered under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which allows military vessels to intervene during maritime emergencies even outside their territorial waters. Upon notifying the Russian authorities, it became evident they wished to take charge of the situation with their naval assets also arriving at the incident site.
While the immediate focus remains on search and rescue operations and the investigation, the international community watches closely as this incident could lead to heightening tensions among nations, especially with pending geopolitical narratives surrounding armament trade and military logistics in the Mediterranean.
Olga Petrovna, spokesperson for Oboronlogistika, confirmed the Ursa Major was en route to deliver cranes and maintenance equipment, yet specifics behind its operational agenda during the mission remained ambiguous. Meanwhile, as investigations proceed, the focus shifts to preventing potential future incidents as maritime tension continues to rise.
Worries persist over whether the wreckage could impact marine environments. The Clara Campoamor, the salvage vessel dispatched from Spain to monitor any possible oil leaks or pollutants, is presently stationed at the site to mitigate any resulting environmental catastrophes.
This event follows numerous reports indicating increased Russian naval activity across international waters, drawing scrutiny from naval experts and neighboring countries alike. The situation remains fluid, and updates are eagerly anticipated as investigations conclude and the full story of the Ursa Major is uncovered.
