Moscow ? The disappearance of a Russian-manned cargo ship in the Atlantic more than two weeks ago spawned a variety of theories and intriguing reports Thursday as the search drew in investigators from across Europe.

Russia had naval vessels and satellites scanning the ocean for the Arctic Sea — last heard from on July 28 while sailing through the English Channel with a $1.8 million cargo of timber.

Since then there has been no confirmed sighting of the Maltese-flagged freighter, which had reported being attacked four days earlier in the Baltic Sea off the Swedish island of Oland.

“There are lots of theories because no one really understands what’s happening,” said Pavel Felgenhauer, a security analyst. “Such wild theories circulate because no one really understands who needs a ship with timber.”

The crew had said that, on July 24, up to a dozen masked men had boarded, tied up the 15 crew members, questioned them about drug trafficking and beat them before leaving 12 hours later in a high-speed inflatable boat, the Malta Maritime Authority said.

The ship had been due to make port Aug. 4 in Algeria, but has not arrived and appeared to have changed course.