Foreign affairs officials are seeking information on the fate of two Australian Greenpeace activists arrested by Russian authorities and facing the prospect of piracy charges.
A spokesman says department will render all the usual consular assistance, including to the next of kin in Australia.
Greenpeace Australia says armed security personnel detained activist Colin Russell, an Australian citizen, after boarding protest vessel Arctic Sunrise on Friday.
Australian permanent resident, Alex Harris, who also works for Greenpeace, was also arrested.
Greenpeace says 28 activists in total are being held on the ship which is being escorted to the remote northern port of Murmansk.
