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LONDON, England (CNN) -- A Russian-crewed cargo ship has vanished after being involved in what appears to be an unprecedented pirate incident in European waters.
The Arctic Sea, carrying a 6,500-tonne cargo of timber from Finland to Algeria, was last heard of two weeks ago when it passed through the English Channel, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
Mark Clark of the British Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the ship crewed by 15 Russians made radio contact on July 28, but reported nothing untoward.
He said the agency was belatedly asked by Interpol on August 3 to look out for the Arctic Sea because it has been involved in a hijacking incident off the coast of Sweden on July 24.
The ship, which embarked from Jakobstad in Finland, had been due to arrive un Bejaia in northern Algeria on August 4.
While piracy levels have recently increased off the coast of East Africa, incidents in European waters are unheard of, according to UK maritime experts.
"Attacks on ships are extremely rare, basically they don't happen," said Jeremy Harrison of the British Chamber of Shipping.
Approximately 400 ships pass daily through the Dover Strait -- the narrowest stretch of the English Channel -- and all are required to check in with either British of French coastguards.
The Arctic Sea is Maltese-flagged and Latvian-owned but operated by Finnish firm Solchart Management. Its cargo of sawn timber is owned by another Finnish company, Stora Enso. source: cnn.com