Representatives from Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland boarded the Chinese vessel Yi Peng 3 in the Kattegat, between Denmark and Sweden. The four nations suspect the ship is linked to the damage of two data cables in the Baltic Sea.
A month ago, two underground telecom cables, including a nearly 1200-kilometer fiber-optic line between Helsinki and Rostock, were disrupted. The other cable, over 200 kilometers long, connected Gotland and Lithuania.
Both cables have since been repaired. According to Danish broadcaster DR, more than twenty experts spent five hours aboard the ship.
Swedish investigation leader Jonas Beckstrand stated they spoke with the crew and inspected the technology, but did not provide further details. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has expressed the need for clarity on the incident and anticipates cooperation from China.
The Yi Peng 3 became a focus of the investigation as it was near the cables when the damage occurred. The ship departed from the Russian port of Ust-Luga in mid-November, heading to Port Said, Egypt.
Source: NOS