Finland seizes ship that damaged submarine cable

Finnish police announced that a ship, alleged to have damaged the submarine telecommunications cable connecting Helsinki and Tallinn, was stopped and seized in Finnish waters. It was shared that the cable is owned by the Finnish telecom operator Elisa. The name of the ship and the country it belongs to were not disclosed for security reasons.

Authorities stated that investigations into the ship's captain and crew are ongoing. It was noted that the operation was carried out by Finnish authorities in cooperation with institutions from other countries. It is suspected that the ship may have damaged the cable on the seabed with its anchor while passing through the region.

Similar incidents targeting infrastructure lines in the Baltic Sea have been occurring since 2022. It is known that eight Baltic countries have increased their security measures, especially following Russia's intervention in Ukraine. NATO has also strengthened its deterrence in the region with frigates, surveillance aircraft, and unmanned maritime vehicles.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated that he is closely following the developments and that the country will respond quickly to situations that threaten its security, saying, "Finland is prepared for any situation that tests its security. We respond when necessary."

Last December, a Russia-linked tanker named Eagle S also made headlines on allegations of similarly damaging an electricity cable and several telecommunications cables. However, in a case heard in Finland in October, it was decided that there was no need to prosecute the captain and some crew members as no element of intent could be determined, and it was reported that the negligence allegations should be investigated by the country whose flag the ship was flying or the states of which the crew were citizens.

Due to such incidents in the region, security measures for telecom and energy infrastructure are being increasingly tightened. Officials from many countries and NATO emphasize that threats to submarine cables pose a major risk to communication and energy security.

News Source: 12punto