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A Russian cargo vessel operated by the Ministry of Defence’s logistics fleet sank on Tuesday in worldwide waters between Spain and Algeria whereas en route from St Petersburg to Vladivostok.
The ship, referred to as Ursa Main, sank following an explosion in its engine room. Two crew members stay lacking, whereas 14 others have been rescued and brought to the Spanish port of Cartagena, Russia’s international ministry stated.
At 142 metres lengthy — roughly one-and-a-half soccer pitches — Ursa Main was the most important ship operated by Oboronlogistika, a logistics arm of the Russian army, and had a cargo capability of as much as 1,200 tonnes.
The defence ministry’s Predominant Intelligence Directorate (GRU) stated that the vessel had beforehand transported cargo between Russia and Iran within the Caspian Sea earlier than being reassigned to routes linked to Syria.
The vessel was transporting cranes and tools for icebreakers to Vladivostok as a part of a “state mission” to develop the Northern Sea Route, in line with info on Oboronlogistika’s web site.
Moscow has lately championed the Northern Sea Route as a sooner different to the Suez Canal for delivery to China, Russia’s largest buying and selling associate, on whom it has more and more relied within the face of western sanctions.
The route lies completely inside Arctic waters however has change into extra navigable throughout summer season months because of the warming local weather.
An ordinary journey from the northern Russian port of Primorsk to China through the Suez Canal takes 45 days, whereas the Northern Sea Route reduces this to 35 days.
