Russian Cargo Ship Ursa Major Sinks in the Mediterranean | Fifth Russian Commercial Vessel Lost

[@JakeBroe]

Crazy how this channel is becoming so relevant to the War in Ukraine. Thanks for covering all this!

[@12qwertyady]

Sarbatori fericite Jake🎉🎉

[@YahWay.]

Would be interesting to know how much trade back and forth from North Korea is going on in vladivostock right now.

[@RedentSC]

tbf Jake (as a lover of your channel) WIGOWS has been relevant for years but I agree, extremely niche

[@Ikbeneengeit]

Hi Jake!

[@clancywiggam]

I was just thinking that, Jake. Looking forward to your analysis.

[@TYRONE_SHOELACES]

I am a new subscriber. I am 65, living in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. I have been a combination welder my entire career with pipe welding being my specialty for the last 15 years. I have worked in many shipyards, and many welding contracts that put me in and around ships throughout my career, so ...THIS is why I love this channel.

[@trip1]

cheers from Halifax too

[@joefin5900]

I worked at Braswell in South Boston and did a stint at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, as a weld inspector. The Portsmouth work was the welding of the bases for the plateyard bridge crane. When I arrived, the welding contractor was there and he had a beautiful Grumman van all properly equipped and painted up with the name of his company and the different standards he was certified to; NAVSHIPS, ASTM, ASME, AWS, and C T T T I T G F H. The last one stumped me so I asked him what that was. He said "Certified to tell the inspector to go f..... himself!

[@TagueMcBride-r6x]

Man that’s awesome! It can be a dangerous job too. Glad you had a long career.

[@davidg3944]

@@joefin5900 Were his welds up to the C T T T I T G F H standard?

[@AllNighterHeider]

I never even took my 6G test, love pipe fitting and welding though

[@RichardGeiszler]

"Ivan! Why is there duct tape over the check engine light?"

[@BrettBaker-uk4te]

"Light lies."

[@willemsma]

Don't see light, don't see problem, Gregor

[@Carlos-im3hn]

These old ships collecting insurance, or very poorly maintained ? Since these rusting/listing ships may be barely seaworthy ? Difficult and strange times.

[@mfallen2023]

@@BrettBaker-uk4te That light is western propaganda!

[@dosmastrify]

​@@Carlos-im3hnis only 13 years old

[@Renard380]

"If you think maintenance is expensive, you should see how expensive no maintenance is"

[@-Katastrophe]

Russia is building a large submarine fleet it seems

[@peterfinucane8122]

"Sub Standard" for sure

[@MausMasher54]

correction: Submareef

[@adrianthoroughgood1191]

Special submersion operation.

[@dosmastrify]

Artificial reefs

[@dosmastrify]

Perun is that you?

[@robertgarrett5009]

The container ship that sank in Turkey was hauling Russian cargo as well.

[@maiaheiss2991]

Ugh

[@DR_1_1]

"The ship was built in 1996 and was operating UNTIL RECENTLY for Russia’s Fesco shipping company"

[@robertgarrett5009]

It's the container ship Amnah that sank.

[@spxram4793]

@@robertgarrett5009 Really? Neptune must be really mad at Russia for it's invasion of Ukraine 🤣

[@blaydCA]

*repositioned it's water line ninety degrees

[@espesq]

Saw the headline somewhere and knew to just wait for Sal's video rather than read an article.

[@JimWhitaker]

Me too.

[@rarbiart]

i totally subscribe to that. news reporting beeing bad is one thing, even or better especially their "featured experts" are hard to watch.

[@blaydCA]

I read different articles, and H I Sutton also did a video, which is a rare departure for him, because he is mostly submarine oriented.

[@frictionpeg]

Yes, but we won't get any reports or analysis of the US Navy sabotage of the Nordstream pipeline.

[@meepk633]

Do you think Sal gets his information from some hidden stream of technical data about hours-old incidents?

[@QALibrary]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Sal - thank you for all the videos

[@dennisc6716]

The calendar says Christmas but it feels like Ground Hog Day.

[@raycatlin3554]

🎯

[@LaDeCR]

💯

[@reticenti6365]

I work on ships, US Merchant marine ships, including heavy lift ships. Typically things in the engine room do not explode! Maybe a boiler, but thats not typical in any way.

[@MerchantMarineGuy]

They do when you’ve stuck a limpet on the side

[@lauchlanguddy1004]

originally was a broken fuel line. if high pressure diesel on exhaust, its game over. Refer to Australian navy cargo/ landing ship incident

[@bryandepaepe5984]

@@lauchlanguddy1004 That usually results in a fire not an explosion. The fuel would need to leak for some time for vapors to build to explode. There was no smoke seen before sinking.

[@andrewmcalister3462]

An electric scooter?

[@Murph9000]

​@@bryandepaepe5984There is recent (last couple of decades) research by the British Health & Safety Executive (HSE), and others, into oil mist explosions, particularly in offshore industry. In the right circumstances, an oil mist can ignite/explode below the nominal flash point of the oil, and at ambient pressure. Another possibility is a crankcase explosion.

[@ktrimbach5771]

Sal, I appreciate your somber attitude to this situation.

[@FORTUNENGLORY]

1. Happenstance, 2. Coincidence, 3. Enemy Action, 4. Something you will pay for., 5. Something your grandchildren will pay for.

[@AIandComputerUse-nw6lc]

we're re-entering the age of state sponsored terrorism, like there was during the cold war. the blow-up of the Northern pipeline started this. now there are undersee cables being cut, ships are sabotaged. we will also see the return of terrorism on airlines. 😢

[@DickCheneyXX]

Too many coincidences for 3 not to be involved at least in some of those. Especially this one.

[@Exsubmariners]

A bit of a theme running here

[@CoffeeAndPaul]

They're running lean while trying to be mean but one of the problems the Germans ID'd with this ship is "wages." You can't run this sort of "shadow" fleet & not pay its sailors more for running with these increased risks of arrest, detainment, & mechanical hazard. Plus, how do you think the Russians received the bulk shipments of the Syrians' Captagon? These ships are running drugs, too, in addition to their legal cargo. I can almost guarantee you that these ships are not coming back from Syria empty.

[@Carlos-im3hn]

@@CoffeeAndPaul Maybe that is why no mayday...they were shipping contraband ? A mystery.

[@GraysonElixir-us6gm]

The CIA trafficked heroin to fund its black projects while the US was in Afghanistan. Also did the same with cocaine in the 80’s. No one and no side has any moral high ground. US and Israel’s destabilisation of the Middle East with with the Arab spring/creating Al Qaeda/isis/ 9/11 invading Iraq and Afghanistan all for the creation of greater Israel is something I cannot get behind. The effect it has had on Europe is unforgivable.

[@weaton25]

Nice to hear a non bias report on something regarding Russia good work.

[@Shoofool]

I’m amazed that despite my total lack of knowledge or interest in shipping, I found this FASCINATING!

[@realityjunky]

Think of the toy boats and trucks we all played with as kids. Now it's real!! Always fascinating!

[@daveroche6522]

"You're gonna need a bigger boat", GLUG GLUG "You're gonna need 2 more bigger boats..........".

[@MausMasher54]

The Russian Navy today is trying to exceed the 1904 Baltic Fleet Misadventures....IMHO🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@mfallen2023]

@@MausMasher54 Was that when they ended up with with an entire zoo of animals on board and sharks circling because they tossed a bunch of rotten meat in the water? The crew were afraid to sleep for fear of being eaten, lol. I don't know what channel it is but there's a series called "the Russian Navy sucks" that is one of the funniest things I've seen recently

[@realityjunky]

I will always endorse a Jaws reference.❤

[@TristanMorrow]

Well at least the *Ursa Major* _finally_ got the Abandon Ship Drills squared away and up to date <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="720">12:00</a>

[@blaydCA]

@@TristanMorrow Evidently not, if there's two missing.

[@nordnord8141]

It's enough to make you think that their might be real consequences to rampant corruption.

[@flinch622]

The abandonment of classification society translates to: continuous machinery surveys being avoided. Why? Third parrty seems to be one obvious answer. Enter the Russia -Syria routes, and it sounds to me like they wanted no one to observe cargo in transit. Velly intellesting...

[@bend3rbot]

It could be "commercial comeuppance" for severing two communications cables in the Baltic Sea by dragging an anchor along the sea bed for two days.

[@DIREWOLFx75]

"to rampant corruption" What rampant corruption? If you actually bothered to keep track of reality instead of propaganda, you would be aware that while corruption in the 90s was extreme in Russia, in today's Russia, corruption is less than most western nations.

[@alanmony1582]

I was a field service engineer in the marine propulsion industry working for one of the larger manufacturers. I had the opportunity to go on a couple of Russian vessels. The lack of tools and supplies was beyond dangerous. You had to feel sorry for the engine room guys. If you want to be treated well on a Russian ship just bring coffee, they'll treat you like a king.

[@fjb4932]

@alanmony, Wow, one of the few that knows that. I was a young kid aboard the USNS Chauvnet (T-AGS 29) when we pulled into Pusan, S.Korea in '74. I had a passenger van, Jeep, 3/4 ton Weapons Carrier and a Chevy Pickup truck i was responsible for. We didn't need them on our next outting so they were unloaded to the pier and to safe guard them, i was sent over to talk with the civilian head of the maintenance shop. Told to take a pound of coffee as inducement. The guy practically slobbered seeing that much of a gift. A month later we pulled back in and reloaded the vechicles. All were topped off with fuel, oil and filters changed, washed / waxed. Made my job easy. From then on that was my routine ( tho he told me the Maxwell House instant coffee was preferably, lol ). Thanks for jogging my memory . . . ☆

[@The_Ballo]

What year

[@eddie_wolf_]

Very Merry Christmas to you and yours Sal.

[@gregyoungman]

Merry Christmas Sal!

[@karlfair]

Thanks for all your great reports this year. Merry Christmas.

[@bc-guy852]

Fabulous update Sal, thank you. I was aware of this situation and had seen a couple of videos where it was covered. But YOU provide so much more information that it takes on a whole new meaning. Your experience allows you to notice and share the detail that give the story real context. Thank you Professor! Your lectures are always great. I wish you and your family Peace and Happiness. Merry Christmas.

[@196cupcake]

Your explanation makes a lot of sense.

[@helimech0]

It does not matter who you are. Skipping maintenance will bite you in the butt when you least expect it.

[@silviog.4211]

You mean Ursa Major will bite in Uranus?

[@peterlivingston8155]

The United States Navy needs to take per recently released reports. Are we inept enough to be racing Russia to the bottom.

[@SA-xf1eb]

Merry Christmas, Vladimir.

[@billbrockman779]

Reactor covers don’t sound like an inventory item. Going to set back that icebreaker.

[@GraemeHein]

Not since 1970 or so

[@alolen6261]

I feel for those Ru ship builders. I was involved in the theft of Ru Ice Breaker Sea Trials data - 1979 - the Sibir - we (I'm in Canada) were planning to build a similar Ice Breaker which was to be named HMS Terry Fox ( A Ca hero). So we've been waiting 45 years. As each year passes with Greta's failure to keep Arctic sea ice in-place the need along the Northern Sea Route (Ru) & the Northwest Passage (Ca Islands) will be a pressing subject for this channel.

[@davidfarrow875]

Interesting you talk about the state of Russian vessels. I can recall many years ago, late 1970s or very early 1980s, visiting Ullapool, a small port on the west coast of Scotland. A small fleet of Russian vessels had dropped anchor in the seaward end of Loch Broom and they were coming onto the dock one at a time to take on supplies. The state of those ships was frankly horrific. The hulls of all of them were literally covered in rust patches and various colours of paint where they'd been patched up. One of them was listing noticeably to starboard and that one in particular had an interesting time trying to dock. As well as supplies, three or four of the ships also took on cars, each one taking four or five and tying them down on the deck. When I asked what was going on, they said the Russians often came to Ullapool and while there they bought cars off the locals, loaded them up and took them back to Russia !! I also asked what sort of ships they were and I was told they were some sort of large deep sea fishing vessels.

[@ktrimbach5771]

That was during Soviet times. A completely different scenario. However, old habits die hard. They need to up their safety inspections!

[@mfallen2023]

@@ktrimbach5771 Yeah, they were far more competent under the Soviets, and they were still a disaster. Russia and sea-faring just don't mix, historically

[@thearpox7873]

@@mfallen2023 If only they had a warm water port, then everything would be fine.

[@flinch622]

Hard to paint in freezing weather - no such thing as spot treating... for months on end.

[@theorenhobart]

@@thearpox7873 always surprised they didn't 'appropriate' cuba. bay of pigs all over again !

[@edl653]

Was waiting for this one. Hehe Merry Christmas Sal! 🎄

[@HarryWHill-GA]

Merry Christmas to you and yours Sal. I have heard that the cranes were intended for Libya to build a maintenance facility to replace the lost Russian facilities in Syria. The Vladivostok may or may not be the eventual destination but the cranes are intended for Libya.

[@oldcynic6964]

Hmmm, I find that hard to believe. According to the map at 7:02, the ship sailed from Russia on 24 November - around the date that the rebellion in Syria started. (HTS took Aleppo on 30 November) It seems _unlikely_ that the Russian government could have assessed the fall of Assad as imminent, and built the cranes in just a few days, and found this ship in a convenient location, with sufficient capacity to take the cranes to the Med.

[@CoffeeAndPaul]

This freighter performed the Kessel run in less than 12 fathoms. Question: people are saying the Russians lost five ships in the past Week. I know about the losses of the three Volgoneft tankers & this ship makes #4. What's the fifth? EDIT: I didn't know about the crane barge. Thanks in advance.

[@davidmcintyre998]

A barge under tow i think, of the south coast of Crimea.

[@rupturedduck6981]

🎄"MERRY CHRISTMAS SAL"🎄 to you and your family 🎄

[@keystonekid92]

Merry Christmas Sal, thanks for the video!

[@diytwoincollege7079]

It’s too many to be a coincidence. Maybe the same guy who drilled the holes thru the space station is now a boat mechanic.

[@LeonidasRex1]

This, boys and girls, is what happens when you get your ships from Temu.

[@danielstarnes7354]

I think all these were bulk vodka freighters

[@Niskirin]

Nono, not the ships. They probably were decent when they were built. But they certainly subcontracted the maintenance to the chinese.

[@allangibson8494]

Temu returns…

[@jameslyddall]

I’m surprised the Russians actually admit it sank and I’m surprised again they’re not blaming England for it

[@moonraker978]

Built in Germany with a MAN diesel. Perhaps the maintenance of the engine was affected by the sanctions. If so, the sanctions were successful. Although I deeply saddened by the death of the two sailors.

[@dongeorge4037]

Sal, I always appreciate your presentations, allowing me to learn more about a subject which interests me.

[@strathman7501]

Thanks, excellent, very clear and articulate analysis of what's probably going on.

[@nlwilson4892]

I did a blog on Ko-fi a couple of years back about what was causing all the fires in Russia and many of the same factors can come into play here. There's a lack of spare parts due to everything being focused on making weapons and due to sanctions. People and machines are being pushed harder, machines aren't getting downtime for routine maintenance and are being kept going when they start to show signs of problems. Corruption can mean cheaper parts being used. The crew will be exempt from conscription due to the ship working in support of the war but that also means the Captain can treat them as badly as he likes because they won't leave if that means getting put in the front lines of the war.

[@DeathOnSernpidal]

Huh, I didn't even know this channel existed until today. The sinking of the Ursa Major somehow brought me here, and here I also learned about the recent Black Sea tanker losses, and I'm just discovering how valuable this channel is as a news source (I'm not even a mariner, just have a passing interest)

[@wgowshipping]

Thanks

[@RandomGuy-hr8sb]

Merry Christmas

[@MrGarrych]

Merry Christmas Sal, love your shirt.

[@NckBrktt]

Russian aviation seems to be suffering from the same issues as their shipping.

[@adrianthoroughgood1191]

All the Russian commercial planes are built in the west and the sanctions prevent supplying spare parts. After 2.5 years this is becoming a major problem.

[@robertpatrick3350]

@@adrianthoroughgood1191not all there’s the much vaunted ‘super jet’ product of the Russian aerospace industry…… it doesn’t live up to its name

[@The_Ballo]

​@@robertpatrick3350They're in the process of trying to source alternative parts for that, too. It isn't easy

[@davidmcintyre998]

Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you and all at the channel.

[@wadeenyart9676]

TY and looking forward to your video tomorrow with dr. clark!!!

[@DeaconBlu]

Great vid Sal! Thanks!

[@Michael-Wil]

Thanks for reporting facts and not conspiracy theories about who blew it up, the poor maintenance record, old ship, that's what we need to know.

[@meepk633]

That's not what you need to know. Much like a conspiracy theory, you're just making a guess about what happened.

[@AndyAndy-we9pe]

I like to think Ukraine was involved in the oil tankers breaking up and this ship sinking, but to be honest I believe it is just Russian desperation sending river ships out to sea and poor maintenance of this ship. Ukraine has no issue reporting there targeting Russian ships and I am sure would announce if they were involved. Now when we see Russian warships sinking off Lybia's coastline we will see Ukraine admitting there involvement.

[@valandvaland3845]

​@@AndyAndy-we9pe I can see Ukraine sinking this one, but I'm not sure if they would be willing to sink a full tanker. Environmental impact (west complaining about it as well) and all, it's not something they can really direct only to russian coast.

[@TheVigilant109]

Merry Christmas Sal. Great update. You are always ahead of the major news channels

[@justderp5713]

"UPI -- Investigators of the Spanish Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (MITMA) released some of the findings from their preliminary report delivered to the Spanish Parliament. Notable lapses in safety were described by crew members of the Ursa Major, such as unrestricted smoking in machine rooms and the use of a Logitech F710 control device originally designed for submarines. At least two crew members are still missing; FM Samuliy Hiydenkov and Captain Schettino."

[@M1903a4]

"use of a Logitech F710 control device originally designed for submarines" Makes you wonder if someone activated the "dive' mode. 😂😂

[@MerchantMarineGuy]

So that’s where he ended up

[@martinschaefer9581]

Captain Schettino, yeah😊

[@MerchantMarineGuy]

@ where we seen this before

[@fyt54321]

The English actor in the thumbnail just passed away a year ago, age 95. Sidney Edmond Jocelyn "Joss" Ackland (29 Feb 1928 - 19 Nov 2023)

[@josephwirtz8352]

I appreciate your candor in the matter.

[@neilrusling-je6zo]

I thought I recognised him, "Diplomatic immunity!".

[@jameslyddall]

@@neilrusling-je6zoalso check out spooks one of the best bbc drama in the early 00s that had Peter Firth. The actor who was in hunt for the red October but is british not Russian. Good series as well.

[@ibubezi7685]

@@neilrusling-je6zo "South African" - 'Lethal weapon'.

[@adamski-l5w]

Jerry Westerby

[@AllNighterHeider]

Merry Christmas eve everyone and Thanks Sal

[@alexiskiri9693]

Merry Christmas to you and you family, my friend.

[@rudolphvanrooyen2655]

Merry Christmas Sam and team. Thanks for all the great videos!

[@maiaheiss2991]

Your shirt!!!!!!! The best 🏆 Merry Christmas! 🎄🎅🏻 🎁

[@cbhlde]

Frohe Weihnachten! :)

[@aliasalias1213]

Vielen Dank. Ihnen auch.😀

[@paulsilva3346]

Merry Christmas from Northern California to you both.

[@NickanM]

God Jul! 🎄🎁 (From Northern Sweden 🇸🇪)

[@awildandcrazyguy1]

Almost didn't watch this video because I thought it was just more news on the sinking of the last ships.... Wow, not another one and this time with just a couple of reactors... no problem.. Need to hear more on the effect of two reactors 6kft down in the middle of the Med.

[@davidjones332]

They're not reactors, just a couple of 46-ton lids for the reactor casing.

[@sleepyjay2664]

No reactors on board. Reactor covers being shipped to Vladivostok to be used on an icebreaker under construction

[@ktrimbach5771]

Water is a fantastic insulator. Radioactivity has been demonized by the oil lobby. A Full Reactor on the bottom of the sea would be perfectly safe.

[@CESmith]

14:12 diesel engine single prop. Reactor lids were being transported.

[@keepmoving1185]

I’ve never been on a boat but I love this channel! I’m learning so much!

[@lancelarsen7523]

Not really into shipping, but I learn so much from this channel.

[@NavVet69]

Very thorough walk thru of the ship and possible explosion scenario causing it to sink in the Med

[@mladenmatosevic4591]

If you lose power on main engine you might wish to move out of busiest shipping route, especially if you do not want foreign officials on board. Ship drifting without propulsion in shipping route will be spotted by some passing wessel and someone might call nearest coast guard.

[@RichardGeiszler]

"License & registration, please. Not seeing a valid inspection sticker."

[@paulputnam2305]

Thank You for the informative update. The Russians are really keeping you busy. I really like the Tropical Santa shirt! Have an absolutely awesome Christmas!

[@ronaldo2220]

Your an awesome spokesman for any and all maritime news. I never really cared much for Maritime issues. But ever since I stumbled onto your podcast I’m totally on board with your message. Best wishes! Merry Christmas!

[@garthbews4863]

err "what's gone down in shipping?" had too sal ty..

[@gregkail4348]

Thanks for another clear video 👍👍👍

[@n6mz]

That mistral is really blowing in the Med right now.

[@BigWheelHawaii]

Great Job Sal,,, You've Got The "VOICE",,,, "The Timing",,, and You've Got ,,,, "The KNOWLEDGE",,,,

[@JN-om6rw]

We can see engine room is flooded.. free water surface is causing the list.. if water then flooded the tween deck then she probably capsized overturned - very likely an explosive device caused the E/R explosion.

[@MM22966]

For those interested in this ship/incident, H I Sutton also did a hot take that has some additional info.

[@lunasky5635]

Love your shirt Sal

[@Islandwaterjet]

Canadian Master Mariner here. Back in the day we made jokes about the greeks as they were associated with the rust bucket fleet. Today it is the russians. But we that understand the challenges we admire those greeks and russians for their expertise in keeping their ships operating while we in the west would have scrapped them long ago. Any fool can operate a new ship. It is only the truly skilled that can somehow keep these old ships operating.

[@allangibson8494]

This ship was built in 2017… Maersk has older container ships in service.

[@cjwild1]

It’s incredible what people can do when their a$$ is on the line 1000 miles from help 😅

[@TomTomicMic]

Until they don't, they just seem not suitable for the operation but the higher ups tell them to do it anyway or else!?!

[@namesurname624]

Mostly drunk and desperate, somewhat skilled

[@kingjames7273]

Dnt laugh mate😅😅😅if you dnt give rid of trudeau& company you'll be saiing in 🛀 😅😅😅😅

[@mani7263]

Jesus, this is terrifying ...especially add this to the calculation of the Russian ship with all the fertilizer that's still floating around in some unknown condition ...we have got to shut Putler down and yesterday !!! And what about the ship stalled in the Mediterranean that is supposed to evacuate muscovite Syrian material!

[@volvo245]

Cringe

[@charleshotchkiss1813]

Given their historic failure to support and maintain their aircraft carriers it should come as no surprise they would operate all other naval and commercial vessels with utter contempt for the realities of ship operation.

[@edl653]

It is not just a deficient Russian merchant marine service but its air and rail transportation services.

[@badscrew4023]

At least the railcars can't sink or fall off the sky.

[@The_Ballo]

​@@badscrew4023not sure what you're trying to say. Rail accidents kill more than the other two put together

[@StevenPalmer-cs5ix]

Condolences to the families of the missing crew members. I read on a maritime news feed they were in the engine room at the time of the explosion.

[@prfwrx2497]

russian maintenance habits + sanctions + using riverine and lake rated hulls for ocean going duties = absolute disaster

[@jblob5764]

Man they are really doing their part to add potential reef foundations. What absolute pals

[@kellybrian6495]

How many times are they going to try the same thing, expecting different results?

[@loysgullion3015]

As they are outlaws not adhering to international norms, are the Rus sailors rescued also valid prisoners who can be remanded to the Ukrainians for a nice add to their prisoner exchange? Slava Ukraine!

[@wbwarren57]

Great video! It’s always great to hear a true expert.

[@tommychew6544]

RU If falling apart, they haven't been maintaining anything throughout their nation. They are set on a war footing that is dragging them down below their already poor standards.

[@pauln6803]

Exactly. Russia is also known for its endemic corruption. Feed in a shortage of supplies and assistance due to the sanctions, and we may have established at least some of the contributing factors. But since it's unlikely the Russian authorities will release an accurate account (if they perform or contract a proper investigation) we may never know.

[@glenlaughlin6547]

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year. All the best to you.

[@mcribprime6594]

This is a weird one, if the explosion happened in the engine room, then why is it looking like the most buoyant part of the ship? Maybe I’m missing something

[@wgowshipping]

The stern is low in the water and that is where the engine room is located.

[@SlaveToMyStomach]

you are looking at the bow. This ship has the bridge at the front. Look at the stacks, yjey are at the starboard rear of the vessel.

[@omgsrsly]

At first I was confused, too. But the part where the white super structure is located is indeed the front of the ship.

[@wgowshipping]

@@omgsrsly The bow is where the superstructure is located.

[@allangibson8494]

Looks like a typical RORO ferry failure where the engine room flooded (sea cock failure? Cooling hose failure?) and the RORO deck flooded end to end with free surface problems…

[@mboykin6047]

That track of the ship in the Mediterranean reminds me of the Big Dipper...

[@nlabanok]

I just love another feel good story around the holidays. There should be a Lifetime Network holiday movie on this it's so inspiring.

[@glassman304]

Thank you for all the data points.

[@lyfandeth]

Beginning to sound like somewhere there is a Ukranian Kraken trainer who is earning his pay. Happy holidays, Sal. Thanks for covering the news that no one else mentions.

[@chrislaarman7532]

1) So the ship sailed around Jutland instead of taking the shortcut of the Kiel Canal (Nord-Ostsee Kanal). Could have been related to military matters or to fears for inspection of its state. Besides, I had more or less expected a Russian military cargo from St. Petersburg for Vladivostok to be loaded onto an icebreaker-class ship and take the polar route. (Leaving any cargo for Syria to another ship, maybe this very Ursa Major.) 2) This was a ro-ro ship? I could imagine the "explosion" being the cargo of heavy hatches on the ro-ro deck breaking loose and piling up. 3) For those wanting unlikely causes: isn't this the region where orcas attack yachts? They may have wanted to upgrade. ;-)

[@Pooneil1984]

The collapse of Russian shipping is very interesting. Yes it is tempting to look for third party causes, but the idea that this is just bad operations seems more likely. My only connection to shipping is living in the port city of Houston, but logistics have always interested me. I love the channel.

[@MacZussie]

Hard to believe that a 2009 build freight ship, made in Germany, got down without sabotage. On the other side Russia lost his ports in Libya, Syria and will be driven out of Cyrus soon, means has already lost the Mediterranean Sea as operation base, and now the vessels....

[@williamherrick497]

Good Reporting. Thank You. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year.

[@stevecrombie5357]

You don't just replace this many ships. This is a major loss to the Russian economy. Merry Christmas Sal. Thanks for making this stuff very interesting.

[@neilrusling-je6zo]

The North Sea, English Channel have been very entertaining these past two weeks if you like a wild ride, been some very rough waters around England and it made it through to fail in the calmest of easy sailing Mediterranean. Maybe it took some punishment in the North Sea last week.

[@JK-zw8ec]

Very informative report.

[@yellads]

Merry Christmas Sal, thanks for the low down. Was Ursa Major too big for the Russian river system down to the Black Sea?

[@beauregardb6108]

Excellent report. Thank you.

[@ChoadOnTheHill]

Merry Christmas to you and yours Sal🎄

[@jason6919]

Merry Christmas Sal.

[@Nerd3927]

It is possible that not being in class means dangerous lack of maintenance, but it doesn't have to be... I took part in the restoration of an ex navy vessel of 46 meters. Bringing it back under Class took 174.000 euros *without any improvement in safety* Just paying for inspections, dry docking, and taking inspections multiple times because they expired before the certification was completed. We passed and got certified by RINA, but the paper work was much more money then the actual restoration with all volunteers.

[@ehsnils]

To me this do look like it's caused by a lack of maintenance. Possibly also people being lazy/unaware leaving bulkhead doors open.