Finnish Border Guard’s ship Turva (front) escorts Cook Islands registered oil tanker Eagle S out to sea on March 2, 2025 near Porvoo, Finland in handout picture released by The Finnish Border Guard. Eagle S has been released from custody as the investigation continues. The tanker is suspected of the disruption of the Finland-Estonia electrical link Estlink 2 last December. LEHTIKUVA
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The Eagle S oil tanker, suspected of deliberately damaging undersea cables in the Gulf of Finland, has been released from custody as Finnish authorities continue their investigation. The vessel, which had been held since December, departed Finnish waters under the supervision of the Finnish Border Guard.
The Eagle S, flagged in the Cook Islands, is believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” of tankers operating outside Western sanctions.
Finnish police suspect the tanker of dragging its anchor across the Baltic seabed on 25 December, damaging an electricity cable and four telecommunications cables. The damage left a 100-kilometre-long trench on the seabed.
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Sunday that the case had reached a stage where there was no longer legal justification to continue detaining the vessel.
“As far as the criminal investigation is concerned, the tanker is not prevented from continuing its passage to leave Finland’s territorial waters,” the police said.
The investigation has identified eight suspects among the crew. Three remain subject to travel bans, while restrictions on five others were lifted earlier this week. Police are continuing their work, including further interviews and forensic analysis of collected evidence. The case involves charges of aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with communications.
Authorities expect to conclude the investigation by the end of April.
The Eagle S had been detained while Finland’s energy company Fingrid and Estonia’s Elering assessed the possibility of seizing the vessel to cover damages. However, both companies decided against it, citing the high financial risks of maintaining the tanker. They plan to pursue legal action for compensation.
The suspected sabotage adds to growing concerns over hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea. Several undersea cables were damaged in the region last year, with experts warning of possible Russian involvement.
Finland and Sweden, both NATO members since 2023, have increased their security efforts in response. NATO has also stepped up surveillance in the Baltic Sea.
The Eagle S was escorted out of Finnish territorial waters by the Finnish Border Guard and the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard patrol ship Turva.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
