Russian Cargo Ship Ursa Major Linked to Syrian Military Supplies Sinks Near Spain

The Russian cargo vessel Ursa Major sank in international waters on December 23 following an explosion in its engine room, reported Spanish media El Espaniol on December 24.

The incident occurred between Águilas, Spain (Murcia), and Oran, Algeria. Fourteen crew members were rescued and brought to the port of Cartagena, 2 remain missing.

The rescue operation involved nearby fishing vessels, followed by Spain’s Maritime Rescue service specialists. The Clara Campoamor rescue ship and the Spanish Navy patrol boat Serviola also joined the mission.

On December 22, tracking data showed the Ursa Major slowing to one knot. By December 23, it began drifting south at the same pace. Initially, analysts suggested the crew was awaiting other Russian convoy ships, including the cargo vessel Sparta III and 3 military landing ships.

Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the sinking of the vessel.

The sinking follows years of the Ursa Major and Sparta operating along the ‘Syrian Express’ , which analysts suggest is now being repurposed to evacuate Russian bases in Tartus and Khmeimim, Syria.

Built in 2009, the 15-year-old vessel Ursa Major, flying the Russian flag, departed from St. Petersburg 12 days ago en route to Vladivostok, where it was expected to arrive on January 22.

The OSINT analyst stated that Ursa Major was carrying two Liebherr 420 mobile cranes for the harbor in Russian Vladivostok that is heavily backed up due to a lack of cranes and two 45-ton hatches for the construction of the new Project 10510 nuclear-powered icebreaker.

The Ursa Major was one of five Russian cargo vessels, including three large military landing ships and two freighters, that recently entered the Mediterranean Sea.

Analysts suggest that the fleet was tasked with evacuating military equipment and weapons from Russia’s bases in Tartus and Khmeimim, Syria.

Ursa Major was the flagship of the Oboronlogistics  fleet and the largest vessel in its composition.

There is no larger universal dry cargo ship of the Ro-Ro/Lo-Lo class (horizontal and vertical loading).

Ursa Major’s sinking thwarted the Russian government’s task in the Asia–Pacific region to fulfill the developing port infrastructure and the Northern Sea Route.

Earlier, the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine (HUR) reported that A Russian military cargo ship, Sparta, sent to retrieve military equipment and weaponry from Syria, broke down while en route near the Portuguese coast.