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Finland Prevents Potential Catastrophic Damage from Russia-Linked Tanker
Finland recently reported a close call involving a Russia-linked oil tanker that was poised to cause significant damage to undersea cables. The timely intervention of officials reportedly occurred just minutes before potential devastation could have escalated.
President Alexander Stubb disclosed that the situation was critical, with authorities stepping in approximately 12 minutes before the aftermath could have been drastically worse than the damage already inflicted on four vital cables.
The vessel in question, identified as the Eagle S, was detained in late December as Finnish authorities investigated the recent cutting of the Estlink-2 power line, which is critical for electricity transmission in the Baltic Sea.
In addition to the power line, four data cables were also reportedly severed during the incident.
Investigations have suggested that the crew of the Eagle S attempted to sabotage these cables by dragging the ship’s anchor across the seabed for an extended distance.
Risto Lohi, the head of the Finnish investigation, informed Reuters that had their actions continued unchecked, the crew would likely have targeted another crucial infrastructure, namely the Estlink-1 cable, potentially leading to further compromises of Finland’s underwater infrastructure.
“There would have been an almost immediate danger that other cables or pipes related to our critical underwater infrastructure could have been damaged,” Lohi emphasized.
In an effort to bolster the security process around such critical infrastructure, President Stubb outlined the current protocol which begins with the private company monitoring the cables. If an incident occurs, the company notifies authorities, who conduct searches for vessels in proximity to the site of damage.
“Once that happens, you identify the ship and contact the ship. Number four, you stop the ship,” Stubb explained.
This intervention process is set to undergo changes as NATO members announced a new initiative at the recent summit known as “Baltic Sentry,” designed for collective surveillance of Baltic Sea infrastructure.
This newly launched program will incorporate various defense assets, including frigates, maritime aircraft, and a small fleet of naval drones, according to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
The investigation into the Eagle S and its activities carries significant implications for the European Union, particularly against the backdrop of longstanding suspicions regarding Russia’s involvement in undermining Western undersea infrastructure. There have been previous incidents, including severing fiber-optic data cables between Finland and Germany, that are under scrutiny.
Although the Eagle S is registered in the Cook Islands, European officials have linked it to Russian operations because it was transporting a significant cargo of unleaded gasoline that had been loaded at Russian ports.
The vessel has been implicated in what is referred to as the Russian “shadow fleet,” a network of ships owned by entities registered outside Russia, yet engaged in the transportation of sanctioned Russian oil.
Russia has categorically denied any involvement in this sabotage. The Russian Foreign Ministry did not respond to inquiries regarding the incident during off-hours.
For further details, refer to the original article on Business Insider.
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