Finnish police discover dragging tracks linked to tanker that damaged Baltic cables
- Finnish police have found dragging tracks on the seabed, indicating potential involvement of the tanker Eagle S.
- The Estlink 2 power cable suffered a break, leaving only Estlink 1 operational, which raised concerns over energy supply.
- The Eagle S is part of a shadow fleet related to Russian oil transportation amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
In Finland, authorities launched an investigation into a significant incident that took place recently in the Baltic Sea involving a tanker named Eagle S. This incident is tied to multiple disruptions that have affected power lines and telecommunications in the region, particularly between Finland and Estonia. The Eagle S, which is registered in the Cook Islands, was suspected of causing damage after reportedly dragging its anchor along the seabed, leading to a break in a major power cable, Estlink 2, which connects the two countries. This cable outage occurred on a Wednesday, marking a serious concern for the regional grid operators due to its high capacity of 658 megawatts (MW). Following the break, only a smaller 358 MW cable, Estlink 1, remained functional, raising alarms among energy officials who are wary of the potential consequences for energy supply in the upcoming months. Investigations revealed dragging marks extending for dozens of kilometers along the seabed, indicating a significant disturbance likely caused by the anchor of the Eagle S. Photos taken by authorities showed the ship missing its port side anchor, adding further credence to the suspicions surrounding its involvement in the incident. Additionally, the context of the events is compounded by heightened tensions in the Baltic region following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, leading to increased military presence by NATO to ensure stability in the area. In response to the cable damage incidents, Baltic Sea nations have heightened their alertness due to a series of similar occurrences that have raised security concerns. The Finnish government has acted by boarding the Eagle S and detaining its crew for questioning, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. Despite these actions, Russian authorities dismissed the significance of the cable damage incident that occurred previously, asserting that they had no involvement in the ongoing disruptions affecting the region's critical infrastructure. The investigation is ongoing, with Finnish authorities aiming to ascertain the exact circumstances surrounding the damage and determine how to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.