Director of shipping line: Arctic Sea probably hijacked

Russians using nuclear submarines in search for missing vessel

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The manager of the shipping line that owns the missing vessel, the Arctic Sea, believes that the ship has probably been hijacked. Viktor Matvejev, director of Solchart Management spoke to Reuters news agency.
      The Arctic Sea went missing while en route from Pietarsaari in Finland to a port in Algeria, carrying with it a load of lumber worth EUR 1.3 million.
     
The British Coast Guard suspects that the hijackers were on the ship when it passed through the English Channel. A telephone message came from the ship to the Coast Guard, which appeared to be somewhat suspicious.
      “It could be that I spoke to a member of the crew, but it could also have been a hijacker, or then a member of the crew who was under duress”, said Coast Guard spokesman Fred Gill to the Swedish news agency TT.
     
The delivery of the wood to Algeria was paid by the Finnish company Rets Timber, which sold the load. Taking out insurance for the delivery was the responsibility of the Algerians.
      Rets Timber CEO Kari Naumanen says that CFR conditions applied in the deal. Under those conditions, the seller pays for transport costs all the way to the final destination, but the risk for possible damage sustained by the goods is that of the buyer.
     
The Russian Navy says that two Russian nuclear submarines have been ordered to look for the Arctic Sea in the Atlantic.
      The Navy told the news agency Itar Tass that the area being searched is wide, as it is not limited to the African coast alone.
      It has been speculated that the vessel may be moving south along the west coast of Africa.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Still no sign of Arctic Sea in Algerian port (12.8.2009)
  Stora Enso has EUR 1.3 million worth of timber in missing ship Arctic Sea (10.8.2009)
  Where are you, Arctic Sea? (9.8.2009)

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