Finland Finnish authorities release suspected tanker
The Finnish authorities have released the tanker "Eagle S" suspected of cable damage in the Baltic Sea. The technical investigations on the ship have been completed, the Finnish police announced. "From the point of view of the investigation, there is no obstacle to the ship continuing its journey out of Finnish territorial waters."
02.03.2025, 11:42
SDA
The coast guard is monitoring the tanker's departure, it added. However, three members of the crew under investigation are still banned from leaving the country. According to this information, the preliminary investigations are to be completed by the end of April.
Tanker belongs to Russian shadow fleet according to the EU
The "Eagle S" is associated with damage to the Estlink 2 submarine power cable running between Finland and Estonia and several communication cables. The damage occurred on Christmas Day last year. As a result, the Finnish authorities seized the "Eagle S", which flies the flag of the Cook Islands.
The ship had passed Estlink 2 at the relevant time and, according to the EU, belongs to the Russian shadow fleet. This refers to tankers and other cargo ships that Russia uses to circumvent sanctions as a result of its war of aggression against Ukraine.
Investigators suspect that the crew of the "Eagle S" deliberately caused the damage by dragging the anchor on the seabed behind the tanker. In the course of the investigation, a kilometer-long drag mark was discovered on the seabed. The anchor has since been discovered at the bottom of the Baltic Sea and lifted with the help of a Swedish special ship.
