Finnish authorities have recovered an anchor from the Baltic Sea, suspected to be used in the sabotage of data and power cables. The crew of the oil tanker Eagle S is suspected of damaging the Estlink-2 power cable and four internet cables between Estonia and Finland in late December.
Authorities stated the anchor’s location was on the Eagle S’s route. The ship was detained for investigation and was missing an anchor.
The crew is held in Finland. The Eagle S, sailing under the Cook Islands flag, is believed to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet of old tankers used to circumvent sanctions.
Finland also suspects Russia of involvement in the cable sabotage. Investigators reported the Estlink-2 outage coincided with the Eagle S’s passage, alleging the ship dragged its anchor on the sea floor, where a long drag mark was found.
Last week, Finnish police released a photo showing damage on the tanker likely caused by its anchor chain. In November, two data cables in the Baltic Sea were also damaged, possibly by a Chinese bulk carrier.
NATO Secretary-General Rutte announced in December that NATO would increase its Baltic Sea presence in response to these incidents. Earlier today, NRC reported the Eagle S had lingered over a telecommunications cable in the North Sea near Terschelling a year earlier.
Signal data revealed the ship changed course unexpectedly, ending up 50 kilometers north of Terschelling. Its activities there remain unknown.
Source: NOS