Finnish authorities place a travel ban on crew members of the oil tanker Eagle S undersea cable sabotage probe
Finnish law enforcement authorities have placed a travel ban on seven crew members of the oil tanker Eagle S as part of an investigation into the severing of an undersea power cable in the Gulf of Finland last month, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced late Tuesday.
The tanker, registered under the Cook Islands flag, is currently anchored near Porvoo’s Kilpilahti oil port. Crime scene investigations and interviews with the crew are ongoing. The crew members are suspected of involvement in the damage to the Estlink 2 submarine cable, which connects Finland’s electricity grid to Estonia.
“Travel bans are less restrictive than detention or arrest,” explained Detective Chief Inspector Elina Katajamäki of the NBI. “This measure ensures the investigation remains intact and that the individuals can be contacted during the process.”
Authorities suspect the tanker’s missing anchor caused the damage to the cable. Finnish Border Guard officials had previously confirmed the tanker was missing an anchor, fueling concerns of possible sabotage.
Underwater probes are being conducted near a dragging track identified close to the damaged cable. This effort, part of a joint operation involving the Helsinki Police Department and the Border Guard, is expected to continue for several days.
The Eagle S, reportedly part of Russia’s shadow fleet transporting embargoed oil, had loaded unleaded petrol at a Russian port and was headed to Port Said, Egypt, when the incident occurred. Finnish President Alexander Stubb has emphasized the need for heightened vigilance against the risks posed by such vessels.
The damage to Estlink 2 follows a series of maritime incidents targeting critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, including damage to Swedish telecommunications cables in October.
