Finland Detains Tanker Suspected of Baltic Sea Cable Sabotage
On Christmas Day, Finland detained the tanker Eagle S, suspected of damaging five critical Baltic Sea cables with its anchor.
A week-long inspection uncovered 32 severe deficiencies, including fire safety, navigation, and maintenance issues, making the vessel unfit to sail.
Authorities found the ship missing an anchor, later recovered from the seabed near the cable damage, heavily dented and linked to the incident.
Dive inspections also revealed missing paint patches near the bow, hinting at recent anchor chain contact, further solidifying suspicions.
The Eagle S is part of the notorious Dark Fleet, with experts suggesting the cable damage may not have been accidental, raising geopolitical concerns.
This decisive move by Finnish authorities prevented the tanker from fleeing, unlike previous incidents involving similar sabotage suspicions.
Finland's swift action not only ensured accountability but also reinforced its stance on protecting critical maritime infrastructure from sabotage.