ReutersA Russian service provider ship, the Ursa Major, has sunk within the Mediterranean between Spain and Algeria after an explosion in its engine room, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed.
14 crew members have been rescued and brought to the Spanish port of Cartagena whereas two others have been lacking.
The Big Dipper left the port of St. Petersburg 12 days in the past, in response to the Russian information company Interfax.
The ship’s proprietor stated it was headed to Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East with two port cranes weighing 380 tonnes every, though the vacation spot couldn’t be independently confirmed.
Before the Big Dipper sank, Spanish maritime rescue company Salvamento Marítimo stated 14 folks have been discovered on a lifeboat and introduced safely to Spain and a Russian warship later arrived within the space to take cost of the rescue operation.
The Big Dipper was in the identical space of the Mediterranean as one other sanctioned Russian vessel, the Sparta, when it bumped into hassle and the 2 ships have been noticed crossing the English Channel final week, reportedly underneath escort.
Earlier this month, Ukrainian navy intelligence (HUR) reported that the Sparta was heading to the Russian naval base on the Syrian coast in Tartous to maneuver navy tools out of Syria following the autumn of Bashar al-Assad.
A Kremlin official stated Monday that Russia is involved with Syria’s new rulers about the way forward for its two navy amenities. each at a diplomatic and navy degree.
Ursa Major’s proprietor, Oboronlogistika, has been closely concerned in transporting cargo to Tartous, though Sparta’s vacation spot reported on Tuesday was Port Said in Egypt.
RosmoportHUR reported on Monday that the Sparta had suffered a breakdown off Portugal, however the issue had been resolved. The Big Dipper was also referred to as Sparta III, so it was unclear which ship she was referring to.
It shouldn’t be identified what brought about the explosion on the Big Dipper because it handed between Oran in Algeria and the Spanish metropolis of Águilas.
However, video taken by the Ross Sea oil tanker between 12:00 and 13:00 GMT on Monday, and verified by the BBC, confirmed the vessel was in a poor place.
It lastly sank round 0120 GMT on Tuesday.
The Big Dipper was inbuilt 2009 and positioned underneath sanctions after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 as a result of shipowner’s function in delivering items to the Russian navy.
Oboronlogistika stated the cargo ship, which it described because the flagship of its fleet, was carrying 45-ton hatch covers for icebreakers, in addition to giant cranes for the port of Vladivostok.
