Finland Enforces Travel Restrictions on Tanker Crew in Wake of Cable Sabotage Investigation

Finnish law enforcement officials have enacted a travel restriction on seven crew members of the oil tanker Eagle S as part of a continuing inquiry into the cutting of an underwater power cable in the Gulf of Finland last month, as indicated by the Nordic country’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) reported late Tuesday.

The tanker, registered under the Cook Islands flag, is presently docked near Porvoo’s Kilpilahti oil terminal, where crime scene examinations and interviews with the crew are taking place. The crew members are suspected of being involved in the damage to the Estlink 2 submarine cable, which connects Finland’s electrical grid with Estonia.

“A travel restriction is a less intense coercive action than detention or arrest,” stated Detective Chief Inspector Elina Katajamäki of the NBI. “It assures that the inquiry is not compromised and that the individuals can be contacted throughout the process.”

Authorities believe that the anchor of the tanker may have caused damage to the cable. Finnish Border Guard officials previously verified that the tanker was missing an anchor, raising concerns about potential sabotage.

Investigators are also executing underwater explorations in the area of a previously identified dragging path near the damaged cable. The joint operation, which includes the Helsinki Police Department and the Border Guard, is anticipated to last for several days.

The Eagle S, thought to be part of Russia’s covert fleet transporting restricted oil, is reported to have loaded unleaded fuel at a Russian port and was headed to Port Said, Egypt, when the incident took place. Finnish President Alexander Stubb has urged for caution against threats posed by such vessels.

The damage to Estlink 2 represents the latest in a series of maritime events affecting critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, following the damage to Swedish telecommunications cables in October.