Key developments in Atlantic search for missing ship Arctic Sea

Key developments in search for missing ship

Key developments in the search for the ship Arctic Sea, which disappeared along with its 15-man Russian crew in the Atlantic nearly three weeks ago.

July 21 — Arctic Sea departs from Finnish port with timber cargo bound for Algeria.

July 24 — Crew reportedly attacked in Baltic Sea by about a dozen masked men, who the crew said tied them up, beat them and questioned them about drugs before leaving 12 hours later.

July 28 — Arctic Sea makes last known radio contact after passing through shipping lanes between Britain and France into the Atlantic.

July 29 — Signals from the Arctic Sea’s automated identification system reportedly are picked up along the coasts of Portugal and France.

Aug. 4 — Arctic Sea fails to arrive as scheduled in Algerian port of Bejaia with euro1.3 million ($1.8 million) cargo of timber.

Aug. 12 — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev orders Russian military to take “all necessary measures” to search for the Arctic Sea.

Aug. 14 — French Defense Ministry gives first report that ship resembling the Arctic Sea has been located about 520 miles (840 kilometers) north of Cape Verde off the West African coast.

Aug. 17 — Russia confirms its navy has found the ship some 300 miles (480 kilometers) from Cape Verde, says the crew is safe and healthy.