Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ tanker seized over Baltic cable sabotage

Dec 27, 2024

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Ryan Robertson Anchor

By Ryan Robertson (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Jake Larsen (Video Editor)

Finnish authorities detained a ship suspected of damaging critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, including the Estlink-2 power cable and several undersea data lines. Finnish police and border guards boarded the vessel, the Eagle S, early Thursday, Dec. 26, and it’s now being held in Finnish waters.

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The Eagle S, registered in the Cook Islands, is linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet” of fuel tankers. Finnish investigators allege the ship’s anchor damaged the Estlink-2 cable, which supplies electricity from Finland to Estonia, as well as other undersea cables.

These older vessels, often lacking Western-regulated insurance, are reportedly used to evade sanctions related to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

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Estonian officials have raised alarms over the incident. Prime Minister Kristen Michal called for enhanced monitoring and protection of critical infrastructure, saying such ships contribute to what he described as “Russian hybrid attacks.” Estonian President Alar Karis called the repeated damage to Baltic Sea infrastructure a “systemic threat.”

The European Union has expressed similar concerns. EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas stated the Eagle S poses risks to both security and the environment, and announced plans for sanctions targeting Russia’s shadow fleet.

Repairs to the Estlink-2 cable could take up to seven months, according to officials. Despite the disruption, Estonian network operator Elering said the country’s energy grid has sufficient capacity to meet current demands. Investigations are ongoing as Finland, Estonia and NATO allies work to enhance security in the region.

This latest incident follows other damage to Baltic Sea infrastructure. In November, two data cables were severed, with European officials labeling the events as acts of sabotage. A Chinese vessel was detained after reportedly dragging an anchor that damaged cables connecting Germany, Lithuania and Finland.

The Kremlin declined to comment on Finland’s detention of the Eagle S. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov described it as a “highly specialized issue” beyond the Kremlin’s scope.

Meanwhile, NATO is expected to deploy new technology in 2025, including sea drones, to better monitor and protect underwater cables in the Baltic and Mediterranean seas.

Tags: Cable, Cargo ships, China, European Union, Finland, Germany, Russia, Russia-Ukraine War

[ryan robertson]

FINNISH AUTHORITIES DETAINED A SHIP SUSPECTED OF DAMAGING KEY INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE BALTIC SEA, INCLUDING THE ESTLINK-2 POWER CABLE AND SEVERAL DATA LINES. THE VESSEL, CALLED THE EAGLE S, WAS BOARDED EARLY THURSDAY BY FINNISH POLICE AND BORDER GUARDS. IT’S NOW BEING HELD IN FINNISH WATERS.

THE EAGLE S, FLAGGED IN THE COOK ISLANDS, IS LINKED TO RUSSIA’S SO-CALLED “SHADOW FLEET” OF FUEL TANKERS. FINNISH INVESTIGATORS SAY THE SHIP’S ANCHOR DAMAGED THE ESTLINK-2 CABLE, WHICH SUPPLIES ELECTRICITY FROM FINLAND TO ESTONIA, ALONG WITH OTHER UNDERSEA CABLES. THESE OLDER SHIPS ARE REPORTEDLY USED TO BYPASS WESTERN SANCTIONS TIED TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE.

ESTONIAN OFFICIALS ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM. PRIME MINISTER KRISTEN MICHAL (MEE-HAUL) IS CALLING FOR STRONGER MONITORING AND PROTECTION OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, SAYING THESE SHIPS ARE HELPING FUND WHAT HE CALLS “RUSSIAN HYBRID ATTACKS.”

ESTONIA’S PRESIDENT ALAR KARIS CALLED REPEATED DAMAGE TO BALTIC SEA INFRASTRUCTURE A “SYSTEMIC THREAT.”

THE EUROPEAN UNION IS BACKING THOSE CONCERNS. THE EU’s FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF SAYS THE EAGLE S POSES RISKS TO SECURITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND ANNOUNCED PLANS FOR NEW SANCTIONS TARGETING RUSSIA’S SHADOW FLEET.

REPAIRS TO THE DAMAGED ESTLINK-2 CABLE COULD TAKE UP TO SEVEN MONTHS, BUT THERE’S CURRENTLY ENOUGH CAPACITY TO MEET ESTONIA’S ENERGY NEEDS. MEANWHILE, INVESTIGATIONS ARE ONGOING AS FINLAND, ESTONIA, AND NATO ALLIES WORK TO STRENGTHEN SECURITY IN THE REGION.

THIS LATEST INCIDENT ADDS TO GROWING CONCERNS AFTER TWO DATA CABLES WERE SEVERED IN THE BALTIC SEA IN NOVEMBER. EUROPEAN OFFICIALS CALLED IT SABOTAGE, AND A CHINESE VESSEL WAS DETAINED AFTER ALLEGEDLY DRAGGING AN ANCHOR THAT DAMAGED CABLES LINKING GERMANY, LITHUANIA, AND FINLAND.

THE KREMLIN ISN’T COMMENTING ON FINLAND’S DETENTION OF THE EAGLE S, OTHER THAN SAYING IT’S A “HIGHLY SPECIALIZED ISSUE” OUTSIDE THE KREMLIN’S SCOPE.

NATO IS EXPECTED TO ROLL OUT NEW TECHNOLOGY NEXT YEAR, INCLUDING SEA DRONES, TO PROTECT UNDERWATER CABLES IN THE BALTIC AND MEDITERRANEAN SEAS.

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