Search for missing ship in full swing, expected to be successful

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MOSCOW, August 16 (Itar-Tass) -- The operation to find the Arctic Sea
cargo ship is in full swing and develops successfully, Russian
representative to NATO Dmitry Rogozin said in a news broadcast on the
Vesti television channel.
"The operation is in full swing. It is developing successfully. Its
paces give us reason to hope for success," he stated. However, he gave no
details, noting only that Russia really had full information to take an
appropriate well-considered decision.
All the rest versions in the Internet and the press are more connected
with some informational speculations, he said.
Finland's central criminal police confirmed that the ship owner
received the demand to pay ransom for the seized vessel. Speaking on
Finnish state television, an investigator said that the question was one
of a rather considerable sum, but did not say what sum. Earlier, media
reported it might be 1.5 million dollars.
The Finnish television channel said, referring to some sources, that
threats were also uttered to be carried out against the Russian crew in
case the demands were not satisfied.
Meanwhile, police authorities in Finland, Sweden and Malta conduct an
international investigation with the participation of police services of
more than 20 countries, Interpol and Europol over the ship disappearance.
The Finnish police said in an official statement on Saturday that the
cargo ship was seized in Sweden's Baltic waters on July 24, 2009. The
Finnish transport company reported it to Finnish police, and Finnish
police authorities informed Swedish colleagues about it.
It is not established yet whether the supposed attack is linked with
the later developments, police said, noting that publications were not
possible at the stage, since it could create threat to the people' lives
and health.
The investigation is continuing, and it is not possible to give other
details, the criminal police said, assuring that new information about the
investigation would be revealed as soon as the circumstances allowed.
The Maritime Authority of Malta, where the vessel is registered, also
said in an official statement that it was impossible to give information
to the public at the current stage, but agreed that the situation was
complicated by the ransom demand and considerable threat to the crew's
lives and health.
A signal of the ship system to determine whereabouts unexpectedly came
from the Arctic Sea on Saturday, but there were no other signals later.
The Internet "Maritime Bulletin-Sovfrakht" said the vessel at the moment
was in the Bay of Biscay off France and was moving at a speed of 10.3
knots. However, no other signals were received later. The MSC Donata
container carrier flying the flag of Panama was the nearest to the site
from where the signal came.
Bulletin editor-in-chief Mikhail Voitenko said it was a system of
automatic identification. The signal belongs only to this vessel and no
one else. It was received for at least an hour and disappeared again, he
said on Vesti television.
It is not the first such report that the Arctic Sea is found. On
Friday, it was reported that the vessel allegedly was north of the Cabo
Verde islands, but it was not confirmed then.
Nevertheless, a high-ranking military source in Brussels told
Itar-Tass that the whereabouts of the Arctic Sea were established, but the
information was not made public for operational reasons. The whereabouts
are known, but it cannot be revealed, he said.
According to London's Times, the situation is complicated as the ship
fuel reserves are running out. The vessel will stop in the ocean waters
and may be easily attacked by those who intend to seize it.
The Arctic Sea loaded with timber left Finland on July 22 and was to
arrive in Algeria on August 4. However, contact with it was lost on July
28 when the ship was near Portugal.
The owner of the ship is the Maltese company Arctic Sea Ltd. It is
registered in the port of Valletta. The technical operator is the Solchart
Arkhangelsk Ltd company. Deputy director of the company Ivan Boiko told
Itar-Tass on Saturday that he received no information from the owner or
other official sources about its whereabouts and any contacts with it.
All the 15 crewmembers were employed in Arkhangelsk. The Arkhangelsk
regional administration has opened a telephone line to provide
psychological and social support for relatives of the crewmembers.
-0-pan