MOSCOW/ST. PETERSBURG, October 27 (RIA Novosti)...

The sailors were discovered dead in their cabins on board the Maltese-flagged Atlantic Eland. Investigators are looking into food poisoning as a possible cause, the Morskoi Bulleten (Maritime Bulletin) said.

Two other sailors from the ship, with a crew of 28 Russian and Ukrainian nationals, have been hospitalized.

A spokesman for Baltic Mercur, which owns the vessel, confirmed the deaths.

"Police and health officials are investigating," the official said.