THIS is the first picture of a Russian sailor who police have been searching for following his disappearance in Ipswich on Christmas Eve.

THIS is the first picture of a Russian sailor who is feared dead following his disappearance in Ipswich on Christmas Eve.

A search for 36-year-old Alexey Dorofeev continued along the banks of the River Orwell yesterday.

He was last seen on the quayside at about 10pm on Christmas Eve, having returned to the area of the ship by a fellow crew member. He had earlier gone ashore with two crew members to socialise.

He disappeared from his British-registered ship, Daniel Kay, which was moored in Ipswich Marina. It is believed the ship had sailed from Spain bringing rock salt for treatment on paths and roads.

However, he was not reported missing until noon on Boxing Day.

Crew members presumed he had gone into Ipswich but the captain raised the alarm when he failed to return after two days.

Inspector Des Pooley, duty inspector at Ipswich police station, said officers had searched CCTV footage to find the man but admitted they were not optimistic for his safe return.

He added: “We are not expecting good news”.

Coastguard rescue teams from Holbrook and Felixstowe were searching the river and shoreline near the Orwell Bridge yesterday afternoon helped by Harwich RNLI and a police rescue helicopter, but so far have found nothing.

Police are continuing their enquiries and will extend the search.

A force spokesman confirmed: “We are still conducting a missing person enquiry.”

It is not believed that he has any possessions with him as his mobile phone, laptop and ID/passport were all left in his cabin on the ship. It is unknown if he has any access to money.

The ship's crew have been spoken to via an interpreter, CCTV has been checked and police have also spoken to staff at the Brewery Tap and the Ship Launch Inn where he was known to have visited on Christmas Eve.

He is described as white, medium build and with cropped black hair. He was wearing a dark coloured long sleeved coat and dark coloured blue jeans when he was last seen.

The police helicopter, the Coastguard, Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue and police have all conducted searches of the area including the shoreline from the quay to the Orwell Bridge, the quayside and surrounding wasteland. So far all enquiries and searches have not proved to be successful.

Officers are asking him or anyone who has seen him or knows of his whereabouts to contact the duty inspector at Ipswich Police Station on 01473 613500.