Anchor Damage Causes Telecom Cable Disruption in Baltic Sea

A pair of telecomm cables in the Baltic Sea were torn apart by a strong external force on December 25, 2024, according to Finland’s Elisa. The cables have since been repaired, but the incident has raised concerns about the safety of underwater infrastructure in the region.

Authorities in Finland seized the Eagle S tanker, carrying Russian oil, on December 26 after suspecting that the vessel had damaged the Finnish-Estonian Estlink 2 power line and four telecom cables by dragging its anchor across the seabed. The vessel, registered in the Cook Islands, is currently under investigation as eight crew members have been named as suspects in the case.

“The current suspicion is that the external force has been caused by an anchor,” said Jaakko Wallenius, Chief Security Officer at Elisa, which owns two of the damaged fiber optic lines. The cables, vital for communication between Finland and Estonia, are steel-reinforced with multiple layers of insulation to protect the delicate fibers within.

Repairing the Estlink 2 power cable and the telecom cables is expected to be a lengthy process, with operators Fingrid of Finland and Elering of Estonia estimating it will take around seven months to complete the repairs. In the meantime, efforts are being made to ensure minimal disruption to telecommunications services in the region.

As incidents like this highlight the vulnerability of underwater infrastructure to external forces, it is essential for authorities and industry players to implement stricter regulations and monitoring mechanisms to prevent similar accidents in the future. The consequences of such disruptions can be significant, impacting not only communication networks but also vital services that rely on these cables for connectivity.

Overall, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding underwater infrastructure and the need for increased vigilance in protecting these essential communication pathways.

Sources: Reuters