Listening equipment was placed on Eagle S and related tanker Swiftsea Rider to monitor Nato naval and aircraft activities, Lloyd’s List was told
The hi-tech equipment on board was abnormal for a merchant ship and consumed more power from the ship’s generator, leading to repeated blackouts, a source familiar with the vessel who provided commercial maritime services to it as recently as seven months ago.
According to a source familiar with the ship that supplied commercial maritime services to it as recently as seven months ago, the high-tech equipment on board was unusual for a merchant ship and used more power from the ship’s generator, resulting in frequent blackouts.When it was found in Finland’s exclusive economic zone, its anchor was lowered.
According to a police spokesperson, the Fitburg ship had left the Russian port of St. Petersburg while flying the flag of St. Vincent and Grenadines.
From our side we are investigating grave sabotage,” said Robin Lardot, director of Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
President Alexander Stubb posted on X that he had been given an “overview” of the cable breach from authorities.
He underlined the need to “avert the risks” posed by vessels that are part of the shadow fleet.
Finnish police have said the case is being investigated as “aggravated criminal mischief”.
The damaged cable had a transmission capacity of 650 megawatts and is 170km long (105 miles), 145km of which is submerged. The fault was located on Thursday in the submarine section.
The EU has threatened to impose further sanctions against Russia as a result of the incident and said it was “strengthening efforts to protect undersea cables”.
“We strongly condemn any deliberate destruction of Europe’s critical infrastructure,” the European Commission and the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said in a joint statement.
Margus Tsahkna, the foreign minister of Estonia, stated on Thursday that damage to vital submarine infrastructure has become “so frequent” that it raises questions about whether it can be classified as “accidental” or “merely poor seamanship”..
In a press release, Tsahkna stated, “We must understand that damage to submarine infrastructure has become more systematic and thus must be regarded as attacks against our vital structures.”.
Eagle S has been escorted to a Finnish port, according to the foreign ministry..
