Finnish authorities on Saturday relocated a ship under investigation for its suspected role in sabotaging an undersea power cable between Finland and Estonia.
The vessel, the Eagle S tanker, has been under scrutiny since Thursday as part of an investigation into the “aggravated sabotage” of the Estlink 2 submarine cable, a key power link in the Baltic Sea.
Finnish officials believe the ship may have ties to Russia, with suspicions arising amid heightened tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The disconnection of the cable on Christmas Day is the latest in a series of incidents that Western authorities suspect are acts of sabotage related to the conflict in Ukraine.
The Cook Islands-flagged Eagle S was escorted toward Finland’s southern coast near Porkkala before being moved on Saturday to an anchorage in Porvoo, approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Helsinki.
Finnish police confirmed the ship’s relocation in a statement, saying, “The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has seized Eagle S.” The new location was chosen to facilitate further investigative measures.
Investigations aboard the ship are set to resume at this new anchorage. Authorities noted that the move offers a more suitable environment for conducting detailed inquiries.
Tensions in the Baltic Sea region have escalated significantly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The disconnection of the Estlink 2 cable follows an earlier incident in October when two telecommunications cables were severed in Swedish waters.
In response to these 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 embargoed products amid international sanctions.
The investigation remains ongoing, as authorities work to uncover the extent of the ship’s involvement in the sabotage.
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