Key developments in the voyage of the freighter Arctic Sea.

July 21 — Arctic Sea departs from Finnish port carrying timber bound for Algeria, with a 15-man Russian crew.

July 24 — Crew reportedly attacked in Baltic Sea by about a dozen masked men, who allegedly tied up the crew members, 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.

July 31 — Swedish authorities receive a telephone call from someone identifying himself as captain of the ship. Officials say the call was cut off but was not alarming.

Aug. 4 — Arctic Sea fails to arrive as scheduled in the Algerian port of Bejaia with its 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 north of Cape Verde off the West African coast.

Aug. 17 — Russia confirms its navy has found the ship near Cape Verde, says the crew is safe and healthy.

Aug. 18 — Russia confirms the ship had been hijacked and eight hijackers have been arrested. A Russian insurance company says the hijackers demanded a $1.5 million ransom.

Aug. 20 — Russia flies the hijackers and crew from Cape Verde to Moscow for questioning. The Kremlin says the ship will sail to the Black Sea port of Novorossisk for further examination.