Russian ship lost in sea of rumor and intrigue
source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/08/17/russia.ship.conspiracies/index.html
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- riffhard98
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(CNN) -- Whether or not it has anything more dangerous than a cargo of timber on board, vanished ship Arctic Sea certainly now carries the answers to one of the most intriguing maritime mysteries to emerge in recent times.
Since it disappeared off the charts more than two weeks ago, rumors and conspiracy theories have stirred in the Russian-crewed vessel's wake, with a fog of conflicting sightings and reports doing little to help separate fact from fiction.
Conjuring plots worthy of "Hunt for Red October" author Tom Clancy, online chatter has thrown up numerous theories about the fate of the Arctic Sea, casting the ship variously as a covert weapons transporter, a drug courier or the booty in a mutinous crime venture.
An apparent ransom demand, which Finnish police say has been issued to shipping company Solchart Management suggests some motive for abducting the vessel, but has done little to clarify the events since the ship was reportedly boarded by hijackers on July 24.
After that incident off the coast of Sweden, according to a confusing array of sightings and reports, the Arctic Sea sailed through the English Channel, was possibly hijacked a second time off Portugal, vanished on July 31, was sighted off the Cape Verde islands on Friday and then blipped back onto computer screens in the Bay of Biscay for a fleeting moment on Saturday.
Since it disappeared off the charts more than two weeks ago, rumors and conspiracy theories have stirred in the Russian-crewed vessel's wake, with a fog of conflicting sightings and reports doing little to help separate fact from fiction.
Conjuring plots worthy of "Hunt for Red October" author Tom Clancy, online chatter has thrown up numerous theories about the fate of the Arctic Sea, casting the ship variously as a covert weapons transporter, a drug courier or the booty in a mutinous crime venture.
An apparent ransom demand, which Finnish police say has been issued to shipping company Solchart Management suggests some motive for abducting the vessel, but has done little to clarify the events since the ship was reportedly boarded by hijackers on July 24.
After that incident off the coast of Sweden, according to a confusing array of sightings and reports, the Arctic Sea sailed through the English Channel, was possibly hijacked a second time off Portugal, vanished on July 31, was sighted off the Cape Verde islands on Friday and then blipped back onto computer screens in the Bay of Biscay for a fleeting moment on Saturday.
