Finnish Authorities Impound Tanker Suspected of Damaging Undersea Cables

Finnish authorities are taking decisive action after boarding a tanker carrying Russian oil earlier this week on suspicion that it had damaged an undersea power line and four telecoms cables. The incident has raised concerns in Baltic Sea nations, especially following a series of outages of critical infrastructure since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. NATO has announced plans to increase its presence in the region in response to these threats.

The vessel in question, the Cook Islands-registered ship named Eagle S, was boarded by Finnish coast guard officials on Thursday. The coast guard crew assumed command of the tanker and sailed it to Finnish waters for further investigation. Finnish police suspect that the Eagle S may have caused the damage to the undersea cables by dragging its anchor along the seabed.

Authorities are now taking steps to move the tanker closer to port for a more thorough examination. The Helsinki police department announced that the Eagle S will be transferred from the Gulf of Finland to Svartbeck, an inner anchorage near the port of Kilpilahti. This location will provide a more suitable environment for conducting investigations into the incident.

Finland’s customs service has raised concerns that the Eagle S may be part of a “shadow fleet” of ageing tankers used to circumvent sanctions on the sale of Russian oil. Despite these allegations, the Kremlin downplayed the significance of Finland’s seizure of the vessel. Russia has previously denied any involvement in the disruptions to Baltic infrastructure.

The situation underscores the complex geopolitical challenges facing the Baltic Sea region and the need for heightened vigilance to protect vital infrastructure. Finnish authorities are taking proactive measures to address the suspected damage caused by the Eagle S and ensure the security of undersea cables and telecommunications networks in the area.

Overall, the incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing tensions in the region and the importance of safeguarding critical infrastructure against potential threats.

(Source: Reuters)