Sanctioned Russian vessel sinks, two missing, after explosion
Two seafarers are missing and 14 rescued after engine room explosion sunk ship
www.lloydslist.comI don’t have live access to the latest updates right now, but here’s what’s been reported about Ursa Major in recent years.
- The Ursa Major, a Russian cargo ship built in 2009, was involved in a sinking incident in the Mediterranean after an explosion on December 23–24, 2024. At the time, 14 crew members were rescued and two were reported missing.[1][2][3]
- Russian authorities described the sinking as the result of an explosion in the engine room, with discussions around whether it was an act of terrorism; official statements cited multiple explosions and noted the vessel began listing as it took on water.[2][3]
- The incident occurred off the coast of Spain, in a busy Mediterranean corridor between Spain and Algeria, with rescue assets including Spanish and Russian resources involved in the immediate search and recovery efforts.[1][2]
If you’d like, I can look up the most current status from reliable sources and provide a concise, cited update. I can also summarize how this incident has affected sanctions-related discussions for sanctioned Russian vessels if that context helps.