Hong Kong Court To Hear 18 Witnesses In Baltic Sea Cable Damage Case Against Ship Captain

A Hong Kong court will hear testimony from 18 witnesses in a case involving a Chinese ship captain accused of damaging undersea gas and telecommunications infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.

The case involves Wan Wenguo, a 43-year-old captain of the Hong Kong-registered container ship Newnew Polar Bear.

He is alleged to have caused criminal damage to a subsea natural gas pipeline and multiple telecommunications cables between Finland and Estonia on October 8, 2023.

Wan appeared in court on Tuesday, but his lawyer requested additional time to review case documents before entering a plea. The court adjourned the matter to February 11.

According to Wan’s legal representative, 10 witnesses are expected to testify in relation to the criminal damage charge. These include crew members, Hong Kong government officials and two maritime experts.

The lawyer stated that the maximum sentence for the charge is two years’ imprisonment.

The charge sheet alleges that Wan acted recklessly and without lawful excuse, resulting in damage to property belonging to others.

His lawyer did not provide details on whether compensation would be sought or from whom, and said he was not aware of any other individuals being prosecuted in connection with the incident.

Finnish police said in May 2025 that their investigation, carried out in cooperation with Chinese authorities, found that the damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline was caused when the Polar Bear dragged its anchor along the seabed.

The pipeline links Finland and Estonia beneath the Baltic Sea. Estonian police also suspect that the vessel damaged telecommunications cables connecting Estonia with Finland and Sweden before striking the pipeline.

The operator of the Balticconnector, Gasgrid Finland, has said the cost of repairing the gas pipeline alone amounted to €35 million.

Finland has sought China’s support, with Finnish President Alexander Stubb raising the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a state visit to Beijing in 2024.

Wan faces two further charges under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, relating to his responsibilities as captain of a Hong Kong-flagged vessel.

His lawyer said these charges involve the disappearance of one of the ship’s anchors and Wan’s alleged failure to submit daily reports to the vessel’s operating company. Eight additional witnesses are expected to testify in relation to these safety-related charges.

Wan did not apply for bail during his first court appearance in May last year and has remained in custody since his arrest.

Reference: Reuters

Source: Maritime Shipping News