Russian Ship Ursa Major Explodes and Sinks in Mediterranean; 14 Crew Members Rescued, Two Missing

A Russian cargo vessel, the Ursa Major, exploded and sank in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Spain on December 23, after a catastrophic explosion in its engine room. The explosion caused the ship to list severely before it capsized. The ship, traveling between St. Petersburg and Vladivostok, was carrying cargo, initially believed to be port cranes and hatch covers for icebreakers, intended for Russia's Far East.

The Spanish coast guard successfully rescued 14 of the 16 crew members onboard, while two crew members remain missing. Fishing vessels and rescue teams quickly responded to the distress call, aiding in the efforts to save the survivors. Video footage from the scene shows the Ursa Major listing heavily to the left before sinking completely. The ship, which was built in 2009, had undergone scheduled maintenance earlier in 2024. The operator, SK-Yug, has not yet commented publicly on the incident.

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