Accident on Christmas Day between Finland and Estonia.
The tanker Eagle S is accused, which was stopped and inspected by the Coast Guard 20 kilometers from the site of the accident
Finland has seized an oil tanker ( Eagle S ) suspected of having severed undersea power and internet cables, with Finnish authorities saying the vessel may have been part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” of ships aimed at skirting Western sanctions.
The repercussions of the accident are still ongoing which occurred on Christmas Day in the Gulf of Finland that damaged crucial submarine cables for telecommunications and electricity.
One power cable and four submarine Tele
The Cyber Security Center of the Finnish Transport and Telecommunications Agency (Traficom) reported the disruption of one power cable and four submarine telecommunications cables, requiring data traffic to be diverted to backup links.
War in Ukraine
The incident comes at a time when the region is already on high alert over the war in Ukraine, with NATO vowing to enhance its military presence in the Baltic Sea following Wednesday’s cable-cutting incident.
An investigation
Finnish authorities have opened an investigation into suspected sabotage after an oil tanker, the “Eagle S,” formally registered in the Cook Islands, was accused of cutting the Estlink 2 submarine cable, which connects Finland to Estonia. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of maritime infrastructure in the region, already marked by geopolitical tensions linked to the conflict in Ukraine.
Initial reports,
Spoke w/ @alexstubb about the ongoing Finnish-led investigation into possible sabotage of undersea cables. I expressed my full solidarity and support. #NATO will enhance its military presence in the Baltic Sea.
— Mark Rutte (@SecGenNATO) December 27, 2024
According to initial reports, the incident occurred around midday on December 25, when an anchor on the tanker cut the submarine cable. In addition to Estlink 2, three other communication lines between Finland and Estonia were damaged. Fortunately, the interruption did not cause blackouts or significant disruptions for Finnish users, who overwhelmingly did not realize what had happened.
Detention and inspection of the tanker “Eagle S”
Finnish authorities have ordered the detention and inspection of the tanker “Eagle S” and launched a thorough investigation. The vessel, which is part of the fleet of the Indian company Uniocean Marine Services, is suspected of being part of a Russian network of “shadow ships” used to circumvent economic sanctions imposed on Moscow.
Eliminating the risks
Finnish President Alexander Stubb stressed the urgency of eliminating the risks associated with these ships. Police and border guards conducted inspections on board the vessel, noting that the anchors had not been raised, which suggests a possible direct link with the damage to the cables.
The “ghost fleet,”
Stubb has called for the risk posed by the Russian fleet of ships, dubbed the “ghost fleet,” to be “eliminated,” linking the recent incident to the need for greater maritime vigilance. Stubb stressed the importance of protecting energy and telecommunications infrastructure, which are vital to national security.
Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said that the country would be deploying its navy to the area of the Estlink 1 cable in a bid to “defend and secure” Estonia’s energy connection with Finland.
Yi Peng 3, a Chinese freighter
Another suspect vessel is the Yi Peng 3, a Chinese freighter accused of sabotaging undersea cables between Sweden and Lithuania. European authorities have launched an international investigation after the ship severed two cables, causing significant damage to communications in the region. Investigators suspect the action may have been orchestrated with the involvement of Russian intelligence.
The European Commission is preparing sanctions against the Russian shadow fleet and is working with member states to strengthen the security of critical infrastructure.
