Two Cargo Ships Escorted by Russian Destroyer Severomorsk Were Spotted off the Coast of Portugal

As of January 9, a Russian maritime convoy consisting of two cargo ships – MYS ZHELANIYA and SPARTA IV – was south of the Portuguese coast.

Officially, they are heading to the Egyptian port of Said, accompanied by the Severomorsk destroyer, according to OSINT analyst Russian Forces Spotter.

Despite the declared same destination, the ships’ routes may diverge. The SPARTA IV traditionally declares an Egyptian port, but its actual trajectory often leads to the Syrian port of Tartus, where a Russian military base is located.

In the case of the MYS ZHELANIYA, there are signs of possible interest in stopping in Libya.

AIS data analytics and trajectory analysis indicate the use of concealment practices or deliberate ambiguity regarding final destinations.

The presence of a destroyer as a convoy guard emphasizes the importance of the mission and the possible value of the cargo. It also signals an increased level of risk, which Moscow is ready to minimize with military escort.

The SPARTA IV is owned by the sanctioned Russian shipping company SK-Yug LLC, a subsidiary of the sanctioned Russian company Oboronlogistika LLC.

Oboronlogistika LLC is a shipping company that operates as part of the military construction complex of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation. The main tasks of Oboronlogistika LLC are to meet the needs of the Russian defense ministry in the transportation, storage and production of military and special-purpose goods.

The MYS ZHELANIYA is owned by the sanctioned Russian leading construction company Transstroy LLC, which operates in the Arctic and northern regions of Russia to implement large-scale energy facilities in Russia.

The vessel is also affiliated with the sanctioned Russian company Eco Shipping LLC, which carries out shipping and water transportation related to the construction of infrastructure facilities in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, including for the Arctic LNG-2 project of the sanctioned Novatek company for the production of natural gas and liquefied natural gas.

The Severomorsk is a Project 1155 destroyer. It is part of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy. It was laid down at the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad on July 12, 1984. On the slipways, it changed the names ‘Marshal Budyonny’ and ‘Marshal Zhukov.’ It was launched on December 24, 1985 under the name ‘Simferopol.’ On January 24, 1988, it became part of the USSR Navy.

The destroyer is equipped with large-caliber AK-100 and 21-KM guns, PTA-53-1155 torpedo tubes and SET-65 torpedoes, Rastrub missile system, Kinzhal anti-aircraft missile system, and can accommodate two Ka-27PL helicopters on deck.