Russia's entire Atlantic Armada 'searching for a cargo ship'

The Russian Navy's entire Atlantic fleet is searching for a cargo ship which pirates are suspected of hijacking before passing though the English Channel, it emerged today.

At least five warships and several submarines have joined the international hunt for the vessel which vanished along the Kent coast with a crew of 13 Russians on board.

The 3,998-tonne ship, which was also carrying £1million worth of timber, has not been seen for two weeks and it may now be in Africa.

The continent, particularly along the coast of Somalia, has been at the centre of an upsurge in piracy.

Dover coastguard say their last contact with the crew was on July 28 as the Arctic Sea - which was loaded at the Finnish port of Pietarsaari - prepared to enter the Channel shipping lanes from the North Sea.

The person who spoke to the coastguard told them in what appeared to be a routine call that the ship was heading for Bejaia in Northern Algeria where they expected to dock on August 3. More

Swedish police investigate pirate mystery
If confirmed, the incident would be the first act of piracy off western Europe in living memory – although Gotland was a base 1,000 years ago for Viking bands who ranged as far as Byzantium.