HIJACKED SHIP NOT IN PORTUGUESE WATERS

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 LISBON 000447

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KCRM PO
SUBJECT: HIJACKED SHIP NOT IN PORTUGUESE WATERS

Classified By: Mario A. Fernandez, Pol-Econ Officer,
reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: Portuguese Navy officials confirmed on
August 13 that the Portuguese government was closely
monitoring the situation involving the Arctic Sea, a
Maltese-flagged, Finnish-owned commercial ship with a Russian
crew that "disappeared" July 24 off the coast of Sweden,
while reportedly transporting timber from Finland to Algeria.
Portuguese Navy officials acknowledged that they knew the
Arctic Sea's location in the Atlantic, which they had
obtained from the Portuguese Judicial Police, and were
prepared to dispatch a frigate, currently on standby, should
the Arctic Sea enter Portuguese territorial waters around the
Azores, or should it approach Cape Verde and they received an
official request from the Cape Verdean government.
Separately, the Portuguese MFA told Poloff August 12 that the
Arctic Sea was not currently in -- and had not passed through
-- Portuguese territorial waters. The MFA further stated
that Russia had not officially requested GOP assistance in
locating the vessel, as reported by the press. Portuguese
Navy imagery as well as U.S. government sources indicate the
vessel is currently in the central Atlantic Ocean, steaming
south, approximately 1000 miles due west of Mauritania, far
from Portugal. END SUMMARY.

BACKGROUND
--------------


2. (S/NF) According to U.S. military sources in Europe, the
Arctic Sea, a Maltese-flagged, Finnish-owned commercial ship
carrying some 15 Russian crewmembers, disappeared July 24,
off the southern coast of Sweden, while delivering timber
from Finland to Algeria. On July 28, Oy Solchart, the
company that owns the ship, reported the disappearance to the
Helsinki Police. There were conflicting reports initially
over what exactly had occurred, with some unconfirmed
information that the ship had been taken over by 8-12 armed
men searching for drugs. There was also a separate report
indicating that the ship had been taken over by elements of
the Russian mafia, suggesting a compromised drug smuggling
operation. However, on August 2, Oy Solchart reported that
they had received a call from an "English-speaking man"
claiming that the ship had been hijacked by 25 "soldiers,"
and demanding a 1.5 million Euro ransom. The hijackers
subsequently stated that the ship would be sunk if the ransom
was not paid. Portuguese Navy imagery as well as U.S.
government sources currently place the vessel approximately
1000 miles west of Mauritania, off the western coast of
Africa.

ARCTIC SEA NOT IN PORTUGUESE WATERS
--------------


3. (C) The Arctic Sea's disappearance triggered a number of
reports in the Portuguese press, as well as reports that the
Russian government had requested Portuguese assistance, and
spawned speculation by some Portuguese officials that the
vessel may have been carrying illicit cargo, such as drugs or
arms. A Portuguese Navy official was quoted as stating
definitively that the Arctic Sea "was not in, and did not
cross, waters under Portuguese jurisdiction." The Press
Advisor at the Portuguese MFA confirmed to Poloff August 12
that the Russian government had not requested Portuguese
assistance, as previously reported, though the Russian
Transportation Ministry had contacted its Portuguese
counterpart seeking information.

PORTUGUESE FRIGATE ON STANDBY
--------------


4. (C) While the Portuguese press reported that the GOP was
participating in the search, Portuguese Navy officials told
Embassy Lisbon Army Attache August 13 that the Portuguese
were not currently involved in any operation. However, they
indicated that the Portuguese Navy had placed a frigate on
standby should the Arctic Sea enter Portuguese waters around
the Azores, or should the vessel approach Cape Verde, and the
Cape Verdean government requested assistance. Navy officials
further asserted that a Portuguese P-3 aircraft had visually
spotted the Arctic Sea days earlier but they were now relying

LISBON 00000447 002 OF 002


on information from the Policia Judiciaria, whom Navy
officials speculated were in turn receiving information from
U.S. government sources. A briefing provided by the
Portuguese Navy suggested that the Arctic Sea had studiously
avoided not only Portuguese territorial waters in the Azores,
but its Exclusive Economic Zone as well. The Portuguese Navy
confirmed press reports that the Russian government had
deployed five vessels to the area, and indicated they were
also tracking those ships.

COMMENT
--------------


5. (C) While the Portuguese government has clearly been
following the situation closely, it is unlikely it will play
any further role. The Arctic Sea is Finnish-owned,
Maltese-flagged, carries a Russian crew, and appears not to
have entered Portuguese territorial waters, leaving the
Portuguese government with no equities in the matter.
Nonetheless, the Portuguese Navy is poised to render
assistance if necessary. Embassy DATT has been in
communication with the Portuguese Navy and Post will continue
to monitor the situation.


For more reporting from Embassy Lisbon and information about Portugal,
please see our Intelink site:

http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/portal:port ugal
BALLARD