Finland: Ship impounded after damage to undersea cable

After damage occurred to an undersea cable, Finnish authorities have now impounded a ship suspected of being responsible. The ship was apparently traveling with its anchor lowered.

The telecommunications provider Elisa stated on its own account early in the morning that a problem had been detected with the company's telecommunications cable in the Gulf of Finland between Helsinki and Tallinn. The Finnish Border Guard then investigated the underwater infrastructure, the Finnish police announced. According to Elisa, there were no connection problems.

Prosecutor General's Office investigating

A helicopter and a ship belonging to the authorities encountered a vessel traveling within Finland's exclusive economic zone with its anchor chain lowered. They ordered the ship to proceed to a safe anchorage within Finnish territorial waters. The ship is now under the control of the Finnish authorities, the police further stated. The investigation will be led by the Helsinki police, and the Finnish Prosecutor General's Office has already filed a criminal complaint on suspicion of severe property damage, attempted severe property damage, and severe disruption of telecommunications.

The police did not provide details about the individuals against whom investigations are now underway. In 2024, similar incidents occurred on Finnish undersea cables around the same time.

(nen)