A Russian merchant ship sank in the Mediterranean. Two crew members are missing. The cause of the accident was an explosion in the engine room.
Two sailors are missing after a Russian freighter sank off the Spanish Mediterranean coast. 14 members of the 16-person crew of the ship “Ursa Major” were rescued around 40 nautical miles off Cartagena, the newspaper “La Opinión de Murcia” and other media reported, citing the Spanish maritime rescue service and the port administration of Cartagena.
The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the accident. Moscow said the Russian cargo ship sank in the international waters of the Mediterranean after an explosion in the engine room.
According to the company Oboronlogistika, the freighter was on its way to Vladivostok. Accordingly, he transported harbor cranes and hatch covers for icebreakers. Oboronlogistika reports to the Russian Ministry of Defense, but also offers civilian services for transport and logistics.
According to Russian media reports, the 142 meter long freighter was a supply ship for the troops in Syria.
Cause of explosion still unclear
According to Spanish media reports, the explosion occurred around midday on Monday between the port city of Águilas in southeastern Spain and Oran, Algeria. The cause of the accident was initially not disclosed. The Red Cross in Spain mobilized a team of doctors and psychosocial support specialists to care for those rescued and also organized an emergency shelter, wrote “La Opinión de Murcia”.
The Spanish rescue ship “Clara Campoamor” and a patrol boat from the Spanish Navy remained at the scene of the accident until further notice in case further help was needed and also to observe whether fuel was leaking from the 15-year-old cargo ship.
