CARGO SHIP HANDED TO FINNISH POLICE AFTER BALTIC CABLE DAMAGE

STOCKHOLM, Jan 8 (Bernama-dpa) -- A cargo ship recently stopped over damage to a data cable in the Baltic Sea has been handed over to Finland’s criminal police for investigation, Finnish customs and transport authorities said on Wednesday after completing their initial inquiries, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.

Investigators believe the vessel, identified as the Fitburg, dragged its anchor for several kilometres along the seabed, causing damage to an underwater cable.

Police are investigating on suspicion of aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and serious disruption of telecommunications.

One crew member has been detained, while exit bans have been imposed on three others.

The Fitburg came under scrutiny on December 31 after telecoms operator Elisa reported damage to a data cable linking the Finnish capital Helsinki with Estonia’s capital Tallinn. When authorities stopped the vessel, its anchor chain was found to be deployed.

The case echoes earlier incidents in which ships with alleged links to Russia were suspected of damaging undersea cables by dragging anchors.

While the outcome of the criminal investigation remains open, Finnish customs said it would not pursue its own charges against the crew. 

The vessel was carrying steel products subject to European Union (EU) sanctions, but customs said the ship had entered Finnish territorial waters at the request of authorities while en route from Russia’s St Petersburg to the Israeli port of Haifa, meaning no intent could be attributed to the crew in that regard.

-- BERNAMA-dpa