The Arctic Sea's crew had spotted the heavily armed vessel two days previously and, according to Bartenev, its ominous appearance prompted his new companions to nervously break out the vodka again.

“北冰洋”号的船员两天前就发现了这艘配备重型武器的舰只。另外，根据巴尔捷涅夫的介绍，预示着凶多吉少的舰船外观促使他的新伙伴们又一次紧张地打开了伏特加。

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The vessel, the Arctic Sea, was reported to have been boarded by armed men in the Baltic.

据报道，在波罗的海已有武装分子登上“北冰洋”号货船。

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The vessel, the Arctic Sea, was sailing from Finland to Algeria with a cargo of timber.

失踪的“北冰洋号”满载木料，从芬兰驶往阿尔及利亚。

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For the moment, though, European and American security experts are more interested in another matter: what cargo a Russian vessel, Arctic Sea, was carrying when it vanished in closely monitored European waters, why a journalist who alerted the world to its disappearance had to flee Russia and why Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, paid an urgent and secret visit to Moscow just a few days later.

ECONOMIST: Russia's political leaders

The steel vessel is double-hulled and designed for drilling in Arctic waters.

CNN: Shell: Grounded drilling rig sound and fit to be towed

As much as 150, 000 gallons of ultra-low sulfur diesel and about 12, 000 gallons of other petroleum products are on board the Kulluk, a double-hulled steel vessel with a helicopter landing pad and tower in the middle designed for drilling in Arctic waters.

CNN: Alaska drilling rig towed to harbor off Kodiak Island