HELSINKI: Finnish authorities on Saturday transferred a ship under investigation for its suspected role in sabotaging an undersea power cable between Finland and Estonia.
The ship, the Eagle S tanker, has been under investigation since Thursday as part of an investigation into “escalating sabotage” of the EastLink 2 submarine cable, a key power link in the Baltic Sea.
Finnish authorities believe the ship may have ties to Russia, amid rising tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Christmas Day cable disruption is the latest in a series of incidents that Western authorities suspect are acts of sabotage related to the Ukraine conflict.
The Cook Islands-flagged Eagle S was towed to Finland’s southern coast near Porvoo on Saturday before being moved to an anchorage in Porvoo, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Helsinki.
“The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has taken possession of the Eagle S,” Finnish police said in a statement, confirming the ship’s transfer. The new location was chosen to facilitate further investigative measures.
Investigations aboard the ship are set to resume at the new anchorage. Officials noted that the move provides a more conducive environment for detailed questioning.
Tensions in the Baltic Sea region have risen significantly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The severing of the Estlink 2 cable follows an incident in October when two telecommunications cables were severed in Swedish waters.
In response to the developments, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced on Friday that the alliance would strengthen its military presence in the Baltic Sea to address growing security concerns.
Finnish customs officials suspect that the Eagle S is part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” a network of ships used to transport Russian crude oil and other banned products amid international sanctions.
The investigation is still ongoing, as authorities work to uncover the extent of the ship’s involvement in sabotage.
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