Finnish authorities detain tanker over safety deficiencies, sabotage suspicions

A tanker suspected of damaging Baltic Sea cables in December has been detained by Finnish authorities after a safety inspection revealed significant deficiencies.

The Eagle S, flying the Cook Islands flag, was seized by Finnish authorities on December 28 as part of a criminal investigation into the suspected sabotage of the EstLink 2 electricity cable and telecom cables linking Finland and Estonia, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) announced that 32 deficiencies were found on the vessel, with three being severe enough to bar the ship from sailing. The deficiencies, including fire safety, navigation equipment, and pump room ventilation, have raised serious concerns over the vessel's seaworthiness. Traficom confirmed that the ship must remain in Finnish waters until the necessary repairs are made, which will require external assistance and considerable time.

The Eagle S has come under scrutiny due to its possible links to Russia’s "shadow fleet"—a fleet of ageing vessels used to circumvent international sanctions on Russian crude oil and petroleum products. These vessels are often operated under questionable ownership and lack proper insurance.

The damage to the cables occurred on Christmas Day, just days after similar incidents in the region, fueling suspicions of sabotage amid rising geopolitical tensions between Russia and Western countries.

Police investigation has revealed a drag trail along the seabed stretching for several kilometres, suggesting that the cables were damaged when the Eagle S anchor was dragged over them. The anchor was recovered on January 7, and Finnish authorities have placed a ban on eight crew members, preventing them from leaving the country pending further investigation.

The incident adds to concerns over the security of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, with experts suggesting the damage could be part of a broader hybrid war strategy involving Russia. The situation remains under investigation, and authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage.

By Aghakazim Guliyev