Accidental Subsea Cable Break: Weather, Equipment, and Seamanship Blamed
Recent reports of a subsea cable break in the Baltic Sea have raised concerns about potential sabotage, with fingers pointing towards Russia and China. However, a Swedish prosecutor has revealed that the incident was not a deliberate act of sabotage but rather a result of bad weather, equipment deficiencies, and poor seamanship.
The incident, which occurred on Jan. 26, involved the Maltese-flagged cargo ship Vezhen, whose anchor accidentally severed the cable linking Sweden and Latvia. The prosecutor, Mats Ljungqvist, stated that the anchor was dropped without the crew’s involvement, as two of the three locking mechanisms were out of commission for a significant period.
“We have film footage where we can see a wave hitting the lock and the anchor drops,” Ljungqvist explained. “In this case, we can say ‘No, it wasn’t a hybrid attack’.”
The Vezhen reportedly dragged its anchor for over 24 hours, causing damage to the subsea cable. Despite initial suspicions, the Norwegian cargo ship Silver Dania, with an all-Russian crew, was also cleared of any wrongdoing and released by authorities.
The Baltic Sea region has been on high alert following a series of power cable, telecom link, and gas pipeline outages since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In response to these incidents, NATO has announced plans to deploy frigates, aircraft, and naval drones to protect critical infrastructure in the region and has reserved the right to take action against ships suspected of posing a threat.
While the accidental subsea cable break caused disruptions in communication and transportation, it serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining proper equipment and adhering to safe seamanship practices to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As investigations continue into the root causes of the subsea cable break, authorities are emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance and adherence to safety protocols to safeguard critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea region.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.