Missing cargo ship 'Arctic Sea' found -- Guardian UK

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/17/arctic-sea-russia-crew-piracy-ship

Muddied waters: Russia finds 'piracy' cargo ship but what really happened?
• 15 crew rescued unharmed and 'answering questions'
• Moscow envoy reveals few details of 'brilliant' capture



The Arctic Sea was discovered 300 miles off the Cape Verde islands three weeks after it went missing, triggering speculation of a pirate attack.
Three weeks after it vanished at sea, the cargo ship Arctic Sea was found off the Cape Verde islands today with its Russian crew alive, well and "answering questions".

All 15 sailors were aboard a Russian anti-submarine warship , bringing to a conclusion one of the most intriguing maritime mysteries of modern times. But, even as the Russian authorities announced the development, the few details to emerge left more questions than answers at the end of a saga which has inspired frenzied rumours of piracy, ransom demands, secret cargoes and arms smuggling – all worthy of a cold war thriller.

Russia's defence minister, Anatoly Serdyukov, informed the Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, that the crew, when found, were not under armed control, and were now helping to "clarify" the circumstances of this most unusual incident.Tass news agency quoted Serdyukov saying: "The Arctic Sea was discovered at 1am Moscow time today 300 miles off the Cape Verde islands. "The crew have been moved to our anti-submarine warfare ship. They are answering questions … to clarify all circumstances of the incident. All crew members are alive and they are feeling well. They were not under armed control."

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The Kremlin had ordered warships and submarines to scour the Atlantic amid fears that the ship might have been the target of a second attack. Meanwhile, Nato was monitoring the situation, due to the unusual nature and location of the attacks, but was not directly involved .

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Since it went missing, unsubstantiated suggestions have been made that the ship might have been hijacked because it was carrying a "secret" shipment, such as drugs or arms, unknown to its crew or owners.

Russia's Nato ambassador, Dmitry Rogozin, gave no indication of how, or by whom, the ship had been seized, and how the Russian military had managed to get the crew aboard the Russian-guided missile frigate Ladny.

He told Interfax: "We can say now that the operation has been carried through successfully. It was done with brilliance."

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