MOSCOW/PARIS, August 15 (RIA Novosti) -...

Some media have speculated the ship could have been targeted because it was carrying an "unknown cargo" in addition to timber. The ship operator has called the reports "rubbish."

The Russian Navy launched the search for the Arctic Sea on the instructions of the country"s president on Wednesday. The frigate Ladny was heading toward Cape Verde in the western Atlantic on Friday, according to the Russian ambassador in the former Portuguese colony.

Capt. Baroe said on Saturday he was virtually convinced that the missing vessel was now off Cape Verde

The head of the signal station des Baleines in the area, which contacts vessels off La Rochelle, said they had "no information" confirming the Sovfrakht report.