Peskov calls Norwegian ship's refusal to rescue Russian sailors an egregious case

The refusal of the crew of a Norwegian ship to take on board Russian sailors from the sinking Ursa Major dry cargo ship in the Mediterranean Sea is an egregious case. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on December 27.

"If indeed there was a failure to provide assistance to those in distress at sea, it contradicts all maritime laws. This is an egregious case that deserves total censure," Peskov said at a briefing.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev commented on media reports that the Norwegian-flagged vessel Oslo Carrier 3 refused to take on board Russians from the Ursa Major, and said that such an act of the crew cannot be forgiven.

The wreck of the Russian ship Ursa Major in the Mediterranean Sea became known on December 24. After the incident, two people were missing, 14 crew members were rescued. According to the media, the ship left St. Petersburg and was on its way to Vladivostok, where it was supposed to arrive on January 12. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry's Situation and Crisis Center department, the incident occurred after an explosion in the engine room.

After the incident, a criminal case was opened under part 3 of Article 263 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Violation of the rules of safety of movement and operation of water transport, causing the death of more than two people by negligence").

The crash of the dry cargo ship occurred between Spain and Algeria, and the Russian Embassy in Spain is investigating its exact causes. Russian authorities are in constant contact with their Spanish counterparts.