In a significant development, a Finnish court has rejected a plea to release the Eagle S tanker, which is under investigation for allegedly damaging critical infrastructure beneath the Baltic Sea. The tanker, carrying Russian oil, is accused of dragging its anchor across the seabed, causing extensive damage to the Finnish-Estonian Estlink 2 power line and four telecommunications cables last week.
The incident, which occurred on December 25, disrupted power and communication networks, raising concerns about the security of vital infrastructure in the region. Finnish authorities seized the Eagle S tanker the following day, citing evidence linking the vessel to the damage.
The tanker is owned by Caravella LLC FZ, a United Arab Emirates-based company. In a court hearing on Friday, the company’s lawyer petitioned for the immediate release of the vessel and its crew, asserting that there was insufficient evidence to detain them further. However, the court denied the request, stating that the investigation required more time to ascertain the tanker’s role in the incident.
Authorities are conducting a thorough probe into how the anchor-dragging incident occurred and whether negligence or operational lapses were involved. The case has drawn international attention due to the strategic importance of the damaged infrastructure, which serves as a critical link between Finland and Estonia.
While no formal charges have been filed against the crew or the company, Finnish officials emphasize the need to safeguard undersea infrastructure, particularly in light of rising geopolitical tensions in the region.
The Eagle S remains detained as investigators continue to gather evidence. Finnish police have yet to confirm when a final determination on the tanker’s involvement will be made.
