Norwegian Shipping Firm Rejects Moscow's Accusation of Denying Aid to Sinking Russian Ship

The photo is taken by Bulkship Management AS.

On Friday, December 28, a Norwegian shipping company rejected a Russian accusation that it refused to rescue sailors from a sinking Russian cargo ship. The accusation was made by Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council.

“An act of terrorism”

Earlier that day, Medvedev had accused the Norwegian-flagged Oslo Carrier 3 (IMO: 9366146) of failing to assist the crew of the Ursa Major (IMO: 9538892), which sank in the Mediterranean Sea last week. The Ursa Major was involved in missions for the Russian Defence Ministry’s military construction division.

The Russian vessel encountered an explosion in the engine room and sank between Spain and Algeria. Fourteen of its sixteen crew members made it to a lifeboat.

According to the ship’s owner, Oboronlogistika, three explosions tore through the Ursa Major, breaching the hull in what was described as “an act of terrorism,” as reported by the state news agency RIA.

Spain's Maritime Rescue Service had previously reported receiving a distress signal from the Ursa Major on Monday. The service sent two vessels and a helicopter to the scene.

Medvedev criticized the Oslo Carrier 3 for allegedly refusing to assist the Ursa Major when it was sinking.

“A Norwegian-flagged vessel, Oslo Carrier 3, refused to take aboard distressed Russian sailors from the Ursa Major as it was sinking in the Mediterranean. What more is there to explain? That cannot be forgiven!” Medvedev wrote on his official Telegram channel, according to Reuters.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also condemned the incident, stating: “If indeed no assistance was rendered to those in distress at sea, this was contrary to all maritime laws and was an outrageous case that deserves total condemnation.”

Was Told to Wait

Bulkship Management AS, based in Oslo, which operates the Oslo Carrier 3, denied the accusation and asserted that the vessel did in fact provide assistance.

"The Maritime Rescue Coordinating Center (MRCC) in Spain instructed the captain not to take the crew from the distressed vessel on board as a rescue boat was on its way," the company said in a statement. 

"In the meantime, the lifeboat was secured along side our vessel until the rescue boat arrived. The weather was good, none of the crew in the lifeboat were injured, and there was no imminent danger to them."

The company also released two photographs showing the lifeboat next to the Oslo Carrier 3, with a Spanish vessel later towing it away in calm waters.

Data from Maritime Optima displayed the AIS tracks of both ships in the area where the Ursa Major sank.

"Russophobia"

Medvedev, who served as Russia’s president and is a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, says the alleged actions of the Norwegian vessel is part of a broader pattern of anti-Russian behavior in Europe.

He added that Moscow must retaliate against such actions "by all means available," including hybrid measures. 

On Thursday, Finnish authorities seized a ship carrying Russian oil in the Baltic Sea, suspecting it had damaged an undersea power cable linking Finland and Estonia the previous day, along with four internet cables.

"We are investigating a serious case of sabotage," said Robin Lardot, director of the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation.