In a tragic incident, the Russian cargo ship Ursus Major, which was sent back from Bangladesh, sank in the Mediterranean Sea. 📉 According to Reuters, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the ship went down due to an explosion in the engine room. However, the exact cause of the explosion remains unclear. 💣❓
🌍 A Journey Full of Trouble
The Ursus Major was originally supposed to deliver goods to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh. 🏭 It was scheduled to dock at the Mongla Port in December 2022, but things went awry when the ship was discovered to be a rebranded version of a vessel that was under U.S. sanctions. 🇺🇸🚫
Once this was confirmed, Bangladesh decided to send the ship back, refusing it entry to port. 😤🇧🇩
🇮🇳 Trouble in India
After being sent away from Bangladesh, the ship traveled to India, where it waited for two weeks to unload its cargo. Unfortunately, India did not grant approval, so the ship left Indian waters on January 16, 2023. 🚢❌
🌍 The Sinking
After leaving India, the Ursus Major was headed to Russia's eastern port of Vladivostok. However, on its way, it tragically sank in the sea area between Spain and Algeria. 🌍⚓
🚑 Rescue Operation
Of the 16 crew members aboard, 14 have been rescued and taken to Spain. 🇪🇸 Unfortunately, 2 crew members remain missing, and rescue teams are still searching for them. 🚨👀
💥 Explosion or Sabotage?
The explosion that caused the sinking is under investigation. Russian authorities have not ruled out the possibility of sabotage or other factors, but no further details have been shared yet. 🕵️♂️💥
📊 International Concern
This incident has raised new concerns about maritime security and the safety of international shipping. Experts are calling for a review of global shipping regulations to ensure something like this doesn’t happen again. 🌐⚠️
The owners of the Ursus Major have launched an investigation into the incident, but the results are still awaited. 🔍
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story! ⏳