Finland Detains Russian Oil Tanker Over Baltic Sea Underwater Power Cable Damage

Finnish authorities have detained an oil tanker identified as Eagle S, registered in the Cook Islands, on suspicion of damaging undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.

The vessel is believed to have disrupted the Estlink 2 power cable and several fibre-optic data cables connecting Finland and Estonia.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, when the Estlink 2 cable, which carries electricity between the two countries, was severed.

Finnish Coast Guard officials boarded the Eagle S on Thursday and escorted it to Finnish waters for investigation. The damage has raised concerns about the security of critical infrastructure in the Baltic region.

Robin Lardot, Director of the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, revealed that the evidence suggests the ship’s anchor caused the damage.

Finnish customs officials suspect the Eagle S is part of Russia’s shadow fleet, a group of older vessels used to evade Western sanctions on Russian oil.

The ship’s cargo has been seized and investigations are underway.

The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) confirmed that two fibre-optic cables owned by Finnish telecom operator Elisa and one cable owned by China’s Citic were damaged.

A fourth cable, connecting Finland to Germany and owned by Cinia, was also likely severed. Repairing the Estlink 2 power cable could take months, Fingrid, the operator of the cable, reported.

The Baltic Sea has experienced a series of similar incidents since 2022, including the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna described the repeated damage to undersea infrastructure as systematic and a threat to regional security.

Estonian and Finnish leaders held emergency meetings on Thursday to address the situation.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo acknowledged the lack of direct evidence linking Russia to the incident but discussed the risks posed by the shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte highlighted the alliance’s readiness to support investigations in Finland and Estonia.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen commended Finland’s swift response and urged for enhanced protection of critical infrastructure across the European Union.

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said her government is cooperating with Finland and praised the decisive action taken to detain the suspected vessel.

Estonia’s President Alar Karis warned of a systematic threat to Baltic Sea infrastructure and asked NATO allies to strengthen defences against such risks.

The Eagle S was en route from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Port Said, Egypt, when the incident occurred. Finnish authorities believe the ship is part of a fleet used to support Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine.

The aging vessels operate without Western insurance, which can pose a major risk to the environment.

Previous incidents include the damage of data cables between Finland and Germany in November and the Nord Stream pipeline explosions in September 2022.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has described them as an act of sabotage.

The damage to the 170-kilometer Estlink 2 cable has left only the smaller Estlink 1 operational. Repairs to the cable are expected to take up to seven months, according to the operator, Fingrid.

References: AP News, Firstpost

Source: Maritime Shipping News