Finland brings a ship closer to port after suspecting damage to an underwater cable

Authorities in Finland announced on Saturday that they are bringing an impounded tanker nearer to port after they boarded the Russian oil-carrying vessel earlier this week on suspicion of damaging four telecom cables and an underwater power line.

Following a series of power cable, telecom, and gas pipeline disruptions since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Baltic Sea states have been on high alert. NATO announced on Friday that it will increase its presence in the region.

According to a coast guard officer, a Finnish coast guard crew took possession of the Cook Islands-registered ship, which officials have christened the Eagle S, and sailed it to Finnish seas on Thursday.

By dragging its anchor down the bottom, the Eagle S may have damaged underwater wires the day before, according to Finnish authorities.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Helsinki police department stated, “The police start an operation to move the Eagle S tanker from the Gulf of Finland to Svartbeck, an inner anchorage close to the port of Kilpilahti.”
It further stated that this would be a more suitable location for conducting research.

The ship is allegedly a member of a “shadow fleet” of aging tankers that are being used to circumvent sanctions on the export of Russian oil, according to Finland’s customs department.

Finland’s detention of the ship was seen by the Kremlin to be of little consequence on Friday. Russian participation in any of the Baltic infrastructure accidents has previously been denied.