The four remaining sailors from the Arctic Sea, the cargo ship at the centre of an international piracy mystery, have returned to their hometown in Russia after over three months at sea.
Television pictures showed the smiling sailors arriving at the airport in Russia's northern city of Arkhangelsk and hugging their relatives, who also greeted them with flowers and champagne in plastic cups.
"Hurrah!" some relatives cried as the sailors emerged from the landing area into a dense crowd of family members and journalists.
Captain Sergei Zaretsky denied that his ship was carrying any secret cargo, after widespread media speculation that it may have been carrying weapons, drugs or even nuclear materials.
When asked what was on board the Arctic Sea, Zaretsky said: "Sawn timber in bundles. 6,702 cubic metres. And that's it. Nothing else!"
The Russian-crewed, Maltese-flagged ship was carrying a listed cargo of wood from Finland to Algeria when, according to investigators, it was boarded by masked pirates posing as police near the coast of Sweden in July.
The boldness of the seizure -- in one of Europe's busiest shipping lanes -- and the huge international effort to recover the vessel prompted speculation that it may have been carrying a secret cargo.
After the Arctic Sea was recaptured by Russian warships in August, Moscow said nothing suspicious was found on board and strongly denied reports that it was carrying advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Iran.
Maltese officials said last week that they had determined the ship to be free of radioactive materials or dangerous chemicals, after Russia formally handed over the ship to the small Mediterranean island nation.
The four sailors -- the captain, boatswain and two mechanics -- had remained aboard the ship for more than two months after its recapture, while 11 other sailors went back to Russia immediately after being rescued.
In recent weeks the wives of the four issued a series of emotional public statements urging the release of their husbands, who were left to staff the ship while it was under the control of the Russian navy.
Russian investigators said last week that the four sailors are not regarded as suspects and that authorities had finished questioning them about the hijacking.
The 11 other sailors were detained upon returning to Russia and apparently kept from speaking to their families or the media, fuelling speculation of an official cover-up.
Eight men -- including Russians, Estonians and Latvians -- have been accused of hijacking the Arctic Sea and are now awaiting trial in Moscow on charges of piracy and kidnapping. They have maintained their innocence.
