--- title: "What We Know About The Russian Cargo Ship That Sank In Mediterranean" description: "A Russian cargo ship claimed to be heading to Syria to take part in the Kremlin’s [military withdrawal from that country]() has sunk in the Mediterranean. The *Ursa Major* went down overnight between Spain and Algeria. The incident comes amid…" date: "2024-12-24" modified: "2024-12-24" authors: - name: "Thomas Newdick" job_title: "Staff Writer" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick" url: "https://www.twz.com/news-features/what-we-know-about-the-russian-cargo-ship-that-sank-in-mediterranean" categories: - "Around The Globe" - "Europe" - "Mediterranean" - "Middle East" - "Navies" - "News & Features" - "Russia" - "Russian Navy" - "Sea" - "Syria" tags: - "russia" - "Syria" - "Ukraine" --- # What We Know About The Russian Cargo Ship That Sank In Mediterranean ![A Russian cargo ship claimed to be heading to Syria, to take part in the Kremlin’s military withdrawal from that country, has sunk in the Mediterranean. The Ursa Major went down overnight between Spain and Algeria, with 14 crew members rescued and another two still unaccounted for. The incident comes amid uncertainty over the fate of the Russian naval base at Tartous on the Syrian coast, which provides Moscow with a vital foothold on the Mediterranean.]() *via X* A Russian cargo ship claimed to be heading to Syria to take part in the Kremlin’s [military withdrawal from that country]() has sunk in the Mediterranean. The *Ursa Major* went down overnight between Spain and Algeria. The incident comes amid [uncertainty over the fate]() of the Russian naval base at [Tartus]() on the Syrian coast, which provides Moscow with [a vital foothold in the Mediterranean](). https://bsky.app/profile/evgen-istrebin.bsky.social/post/3ldzwwemeuk2m https://bsky.app/profile/noelreports.com/post/3le22vl56nc2s The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the cargo ship sank after an explosion in the engine room, but the cause remains unclear. A video filmed from a tanker in the vicinity — the *Ross Sea* — showed the Russian ship listing badly to its starboard side, with its bow low in the water, between 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. GMT [on Monday](). It then sank at around 1:20 a.m. GMT on Tuesday. https://bsky.app/profile/osinttechnical.bsky.social/post/3ldz6wzxouc2u Spain’s Salvamento Marítimo maritime rescue agency said it received a distress signal from the *Ursa Major* on Monday when it was located around 57 miles off the coast of Almería. Two vessels and a helicopter were sent in response. A Spanish patrol boat picked up the 14 crew members from a lifeboat and brought them to the Spanish city of Cartagena. A Russian military vessel also provided assistance, later taking charge of rescue operations. The Russian Foreign Ministry says another two crew members are still unaccounted for. https://bsky.app/profile/oalexanderdk.bsky.social/post/3ldyqfv2hik2i The Salvamento Marítimo alerted ships in the area to the “possibility of shipwreck debris” and urged them “to keep a sharp lookout, keep a wide berth” and report any sightings to authorities. Based on publicly available ship-tracking data, the *Ursa Major* had originally departed the port of St. Petersburg on Dec. 11, with Russia claiming that its final destination was Vladivostok in the Russian Far East. Russian accounts say the vessel — 467 feet long, with a displacement of 12,679 tonnes — was carrying a pair of 380-tonne cranes to be used in the construction of a new [nuclear-powered icebreaker](), as well as other components to be used in the build. However, the Ukrainian military intelligence service, or GUR, claimed the vessel was in fact headed to Syria to take Russian “weapons and equipment” out of that country, following [the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime](). The GUR made its claim on its Telegram channel yesterday after the cargo ship passed through the Strait of Gibraltar. ![]() *Vehicles and other equipment seen clustered at the end of a pier at Russia’s Tartus naval base in Syria on Dec. 17, 2024. *Satellite image ©2024 Maxar Technologies** The ship’s owner, Oboronlogistika, is a known Russian military contractor described as “part of the Russian defense ministry’s military construction operations.” Built in 2009, the vessel — together with its owner — was [placed under sanctions]() by the United States in March 2022, after the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, the *Ursa Major* has made frequent trips to Syria, transporting military equipment. *Ursa Major* had been in the same area of the Mediterranean as another sanctioned Russian ship, *Sparta*. Both vessels were noted as heading through the English Channel last week, under Russian Navy escort. Over the weekend, the Portuguese Ministry of Defense [confirmed]() the Portuguese Air Force had been shadowing four Russian ships off its coast. As well as the *Sparta*, these were the drilling operations vessel *Bavenit*, and two Russian Navy landing ships: the *Aleksandr Otrakovskiy* and the *Ivan Gren*. ![]() *The Russian Navy landing ship *Ivan Gren* — the lead ship of its class — off the coast of Portugal at the weekend. *Portuguese Ministry of Defense** ![]() *The Russian Navy landing ship *Aleksandr Otrakovskiy*, part of the *Ropucha* class. *Portuguese Ministry of Defense** Earlier this month, the Ukrainian GUR also reported that *Sparta* was heading to Russia’s naval base at Tartus on the Syrian coast to move military equipment out of Syria. However, Russian authorities said the *Sparta* was sailing to Port Said in Egypt. In an incident yesterday, one of the two ships apparently broke down off the coast of Portugal. The GUR reported the ship involved as the *Sparta*, although it’s possible it was actually the *Ursa Major* — which was previously named *Sparta III*. The Ukrainian military intelligence service said that “the main engine’s fuel pipe failed” but this problem was relatively quickly addressed and the ship began to move again. ![]() *The cargo ship *Sparta* off the coast of Portugal at the weekend. *Portuguese Ministry of Defense** While it’s not been independently verified that the *Ursa Major* and *Sparta* were headed to Tartus, the incidents reinforce the Russian military’s reliance on contractors like Oboronlogistika to move critical equipment out of Syria. This has become even more critical since Ukraine [has taken a heavy toll]() on the Russian Navy’s [Black Sea Fleet landing ships](), which have been [prized targets]() since the start of the current conflict. What’s still unclear is whether the Russian Armed Forces will depart Syria altogether, or if they will continue to have some kind of access to Tartus and the air base at [Khmeimim]() in Latakia province. Yesterday, a Kremlin official confirmed that Russia was in contact with the new Syrian rulers and was discussing the future of its two military facilities there. ![]() *A Russian Il-76 Candid transport plane takes off from the Russian Khmeimim Air Base in Latakia, Syria, on Dec. 15, 2024. Note the Ka-52 flying armed overwatch in the background. *Photo by Izzettin Kasim/Anadolu via Getty Images** The importance of Tartus — the only Mediterranean port available to Russia — [cannot be overstated](). With that in mind, it’s not surprising that Moscow is now negotiating with the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Islamist group [that led the offensive]() against the Assad regime, to ensure continued access. In the meantime, Russian military forces have completed their withdrawal from the Syrian interior, leaving a dwindling presence only at Tartus and Khmeimim. ![TOPSHOT - Russian soldiers stand by military pickups as they prepare to evacuate a position in Qamishli in northeastern Syria on December 12, 2024. Islamist-led rebels took the Syrian capital Damascus in a lightning offensive on December 8, ousting president Bashar al-Assad and ending five decades of Baath rule in the country. Assad was propped up by Russia, where he reportedly fled, as well as Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP) (Photo by DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images)]() *Russian soldiers stand by military pickups as they prepare to evacuate a position in Qamishli in northeastern Syria on Dec. 12, 2024. *Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP* DELIL SOULEIMAN* Some of the equipment formerly in Syria [has been moved to Libya](), suggesting that Russia might now be seeking to establish a longer-term military presence there, as an alternative. Some analysts have even [suggested]() that the *Ursa Major* might have been headed to a Libyan port, with the plan to offload the two 380-tonne cranes there, either to support Libyan National Army commander Khalifa Haftar or to help establish a permanent Russian base. There have been reports that the HTS has demanded that Russia remove the last parts of its military contingent from Tartus and Khmeimim by Feb. 20, 2025, [although these are unconfirmed](). This step would be in line with the new Syrian government’s aim to have the international sanctions placed on it lifted. Ultimately, the decision on the Russian military presence in Syria will be down to the country’s new rulers. Whatever happens, Russia will be heavily reliant on shipping, either to complete its evacuation from Syria or to re-establish its military presence there under new Syrian leadership. *Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com* ## Author Thomas Newdick is a staff writer at *TWZ*, where he covers military aviation, defense technology, weapons systems, and international security. Based in Berlin, Germany, he reports on conflicts, military modernization efforts, and emerging aerospace technologies around the world, with a particular interest in airpower and its role in contemporary warfare. His reporting is informed by deep expertise in modern and historical airpower, particularly in Europe, with a focus on military aviation, air campaigns, and aerospace developments across the continent and beyond. Over a journalism career spanning more than 25 years, Thomas has become known for making complex defense and aerospace topics accessible to a broad audience. His reporting combines technical expertise, historical context, and a focus on the real-world operational and strategic implications of military developments. ### Author social links [Twitter]()