The undersea Estlink 2 power cable provides a critical link between Finland’s and Estonia’s electricity grids.
The tanker, which flies the Cook Islands flag, remains anchored near the Kilpilahti oil port in Porvoo, southern Finland, as investigators conduct crime scene examinations and interview the crew. Officials suspect the ship’s missing anchor played a role in severing the cable, raising concerns over possible sabotage.
Detective Chief Inspector Elina Katajamäki from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has said that the travel ban prevents the suspects from leaving while ensuring they are available for questioning.
“It is a less restrictive measure than arrest but safeguards the integrity of the investigation,” she said.
Authorities have resumed underwater examinations in the Gulf of Finland, focusing on a drag track near the rupture site. The operation, led by the Helsinki Police Department, and supported by the Finnish Border Guard, is expected to continue for several days.
Investigators are considering both negligence and intentional actions as potential causes of the damage. They have not ruled out expanding the travel ban to include additional crew members if new evidence surfaces.
The Eagle S, reportedly linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, had loaded fuel at a Russian port and was en route to Port Said, Egypt, when the incident occurred. Finnish officials suspect the vessel’s role in circumventing international sanctions may be tied to the cable damage.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb has called for heightened maritime security, citing this incident and recent damage to Swedish telecommunications cables as signs of increasing vulnerabilities in the Baltic Sea.
On December 31, Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, said that NATO will prioritize plans for an enhanced military presence in the Baltic Sea following incidents involving Russian and Chinese ships.
