Norwegian vessel ignored Russian ship in distress, says owner
The owner of the Norwegian ship Oslo Carrier 3 has stated that the vessel refused to assist the crew of the sinking Russian ship Ursa Major in the Mediterranean. Read Full Article at RT.com.
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Oslo Carrier 3, a Norwegian-flagged vessel, allegedly refused to rescue the crew of the Ursa Major, which reportedly experienced a “terrorist attack” in the Mediterranean, according to the claims made by its owner, Oboronlogistics LLC. The company described this refusal as a breach of maritime law.
The Russian freighter sank in waters between Spain and Algeria on Monday. Oboronlogistics asserted that the vessel was struck by “three successive explosions” as part of the purported attack.
Spanish rescue teams managed to recover 14 crew members, but two individuals remain unaccounted for. The company’s press office indicated to RIA Novosti that another vessel could have facilitated the rescue of the crew, but for reasons unknown, this did not occur.
“The lifeboat [carrying the Russian sailors] was heading toward the Norwegian-flagged ship Oslo Carrier 3, which was nearby,” the statement mentioned. “Upon approaching the vessel, the Norwegian ship, which is manned by a partly Russian-speaking crew, refused to accept the Ursa Major sailors, citing some kind of prohibition.”
Oboronlogistics criticized the refusal as a clear violation of maritime regulations, which mandate that vessels assist those in distress at sea unless it jeopardizes the safety of their own crew significantly.
The operator of Oslo Carrier 3, Oslo-based Bulkship Management AS, has not yet responded to the allegations.
Oboronlogistics LLC is currently under Western sanctions due to its connections with the Russian defense sector. However, these sanctions explicitly exempt situations involving maritime safety or emergencies that threaten the health or safety of the crews on sanctioned vessels.
The Ursa Major, launched in 2009, measured 142 meters in length and was among the largest Russian cargo ships, with a gross tonnage of around 12,600 tons. It was transporting specialized port and ship construction equipment from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok.
While Oboronlogistics and Russian officials have not identified who may be behind the alleged “terrorist attack,” the situation arises amid escalating geopolitical tensions related to the Ukraine conflict, with a background of previous attacks by Kiev on Russian vessels in the Black Sea.
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
The Russian freighter sank in waters between Spain and Algeria on Monday. Oboronlogistics asserted that the vessel was struck by “three successive explosions” as part of the purported attack.
Spanish rescue teams managed to recover 14 crew members, but two individuals remain unaccounted for. The company’s press office indicated to RIA Novosti that another vessel could have facilitated the rescue of the crew, but for reasons unknown, this did not occur.
“The lifeboat [carrying the Russian sailors] was heading toward the Norwegian-flagged ship Oslo Carrier 3, which was nearby,” the statement mentioned. “Upon approaching the vessel, the Norwegian ship, which is manned by a partly Russian-speaking crew, refused to accept the Ursa Major sailors, citing some kind of prohibition.”
Oboronlogistics criticized the refusal as a clear violation of maritime regulations, which mandate that vessels assist those in distress at sea unless it jeopardizes the safety of their own crew significantly.
The operator of Oslo Carrier 3, Oslo-based Bulkship Management AS, has not yet responded to the allegations.
Oboronlogistics LLC is currently under Western sanctions due to its connections with the Russian defense sector. However, these sanctions explicitly exempt situations involving maritime safety or emergencies that threaten the health or safety of the crews on sanctioned vessels.
The Ursa Major, launched in 2009, measured 142 meters in length and was among the largest Russian cargo ships, with a gross tonnage of around 12,600 tons. It was transporting specialized port and ship construction equipment from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok.
While Oboronlogistics and Russian officials have not identified who may be behind the alleged “terrorist attack,” the situation arises amid escalating geopolitical tensions related to the Ukraine conflict, with a background of previous attacks by Kiev on Russian vessels in the Black Sea.
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
