This morning, around 07:00 CEST, the Russian cargo ship “Sparta IV” (IMO 9743033, MMSI 273413440) crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, entering the Mediterranean.
Russian cargo ship SPARTA IV heading east through the STROG this morning. Only escort is a spanish navy patrol vessel #shipsinpics #ships #shipping #shipspotting @air_intel @YorukIsik @WarshipCam @The_Lookout_N @Drox_Maritime pic.twitter.com/GtnjNPPPgK
— Daniel Ferro (@Gibdan1) April 26, 2024
The ship had departed from the port of Baltiysk in the Baltic Sea on April 17, 2024, escorted by the frigate “Neustrashimy” (SKR-772). Upon entering the Mediterranean, the ship appears to no longer have an escort (though it’s possible that it may be joined by a Russian Navy unit departing from Tartus in the coming hours).
What makes this ship interesting? In the past, the Sparta IV has undertaken a long series of voyages between Russia and Syria through the Black Sea, always escorted by units of the Russian Navy. More than one analyst has therefore suspected that the ship’s cargo may be weapons or other military material. With the abandonment of the Black Sea route due to the threat of Ukrainian maritime drones, the route has changed, but the impression is that the ship’s cargo remains the same…