Anchor of Chinese Cargo Ship Suspected to Cause Damage to Gas Pipeline and Telecom Link Between Finland and Estonia

APF Finnish investigators during a press conference on October 24 about the circumstances

NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 18:14

The damage to a gas pipeline and a telecom link between Finland and Estonia this month was probably not caused by an explosion, but by the anchor of a cargo ship. This week, the Finnish police found a large anchor at the site of the damage in the Gulf of Finland.

The investigation focuses on a Chinese cargo ship, the New Polar Bear, which sailed in the area on the weekend of October 7 and 8, when the damage occurred. Finnish researchers say the ship is missing one of its anchors. The anchor would have dragged the telecom cables along for some distance.

It is striking that the ship changed ownership last week. On the weekend of the damage, the ship sailed under the Chinese flag. It then docked in the northern Russian port of Arkhangelsk. This week it left there again to sail further east, but under the name of a Russian shipping company.

Suspicious circumstances

The investigation into the circumstances of the damage is still ongoing, but Finnish authorities call the circumstances “very suspicious”. Estonian Prime Minister Kallas says the incidents that led to the damage are related. She does not explain why she thinks this.

A day after the damage was discovered, Finnish President Niinistö said the damage to both connections was likely caused by an “external activity”. The agency investigating the case also quickly said that the extent of the damage indicated intent.

Shortly afterwards, Norwegian seismologists said that there had probably been an explosion on the night of Saturday 7 to Sunday 8 October, but that does not seem to be the case now.

WITH THEM

Finland, Estonia and Lithuania are members of NATO. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on October 11 that NATO will provide a “unified and determined response” if it turns out that there was a deliberate act of sabotage.

The damage was discovered on Sunday, October 8, when an unusually large amount of gas was found to be leaking from the pipeline. At that time, gas flowed from Finland to Estonia with Lithuania as its final destination.

According to the Finnish network operator Gasgrid, the repair of the pipeline could take months. The loss of the connection would have no consequences for the Finnish or Estonian energy supply. The telecom cable would only have had a backup function.

2023-10-27 16:14:53
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