According to foreign media reports, the Finnish National Prosecutor’s Office stated on Monday, August 11, local time, that it has filed charges against the captain, chief officer, and second officer of the oil tanker “Eagle S” for severing an undersea cable while navigating in the Gulf of Finland last December.
A statement from the local prosecutor said the two Georgian and one Indian crew members are suspected of aggravated vandalism and aggravated interference with communications, having dragged their ship’s anchor across the seabed for about 90 kilometers (56 miles).
The statement noted that the three defendants are barred from leaving Finland. They deny the charges and argue that Finland lacks jurisdiction over the case, as the incident occurred outside Finnish territorial waters.
However, according to a police press release, the cable break occurred within Finland’s exclusive economic zone. The case is currently classified as “major criminal damage” and is being led by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, with authorities collaborating closely with Estonia.
Finnish authorities stated that the “Eagle S,” registered in the Cook Islands, severed the “Estlink 2” undersea power cable connecting Finland and Estonia, along with four internet cables, giving Finland the right to handle the incident.
The Finnish Prosecutor’s Office said, “The owners of the undersea cable have suffered direct losses totaling at least 60 million euros (approximately $70 million) in repair costs alone.”
The Baltic region remains on high alert due to a series of disruptions to power cables, gas pipelines, and telecom lines, maintaining a state of vigilance against sabotage. While undersea cables can also experience technical failures or accidental damage, governments remain highly wary of potential deliberate acts.
The Finnish prosecutor’s statement noted that the “Eagle S” incident posed serious risks to Finland’s energy supply and telecommunications, though services were fortunately maintained via backup lines.
Lawyers for UAE-based Kavalerara FZ LLC previously stated that the company, the owner of the “Eagle S,” argued that Helsinki lacks jurisdiction to intervene in the case.
The company’s lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday.
The Finnish Prosecutor’s Office stated that a local court will later set a specific date for the trial and determine, if necessary, whether the case falls under Finnish jurisdiction.
Compiled by Shipping Online.
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