Finland charges Russian "shadow fleet" tanker crew with dragging anchor to cut undersea cables

[midian182]

What just happened? Finnish authorities have charged crew members of the Russia-linked Eagle S oil tanker for intentionally damaging undersea cables by dragging its anchor between Finland and Estonia last year. The captain and the first and second officers are accused of aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with communications.

At around 12.26 pm local time on December 25, 2024, the Estlink 2 power cable and several other power and internet cables linking Finland and Estonia were severed. Damage to the cables had cost owners Cinia and Elisa at least €60 million ($70 million) in repair costs alone.

Finnish authorities seized the Eagle S (top), which had been passing through the area at the time, on December 26. The ship was carrying oil from Ust-Luga in Russia across the Gulf of Finland, when prosecutors claim it dragged its anchor along the seabed for about 56 miles.

The Eagle S is registered in the Cook Islands, but it's believed to be part of Russia's Shadow fleet. The vessels have obscured ownership and sail under foreign flags to avoid sanctions.

The office of Finland's deputy prosecutor general, Jukka Rappe, said, "The rupture of the extremely high-capacity electricity transmission and telecommunications cables is also suspected of having caused a serious danger to energy supply and telecommunications in Finland, although services have been secured by using alternative connections."

The defendants and a lawyer for the United Arab Emirates-based Caravella LLC FZ, which owns the Eagle S, claim that Finland does not have jurisdiction in the matter because the sites where the cables were damaged are outside the country's territorial waters.

Sabotaging undersea cables has become worryingly common in recent times. Russia is usually the prime suspect in these cases, though the Kremlin previously denied any involvement in the incident.

In 2024, Nato warned that Russia already has plans in place to target undersea fiber optic cables and scramble GPS signals as retaliation for Western support of Ukraine.

Since then, there have been several initiatives designed to prevent attacks on undersea cables. The UN formed an international organization tasked with enhancing the resilience of submarine communication cables in December. There's also NATO's naval drone fleet, its HEIST project, and the new acoustic sensing technology that is already being used in North Sea cables.

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Finland charges Russian "shadow fleet" tanker crew with dragging anchor to cut undersea cables

 

[wiyosaya]

Its about time someone held captains of ships that cause serious damage responsible. Even if they are Russians.

They are saying that Finland lacks jurisdiction because they know that they are likely up for much stiffer sentences in Finland than if it was tried in an international court, IMO.

 

[AlexIL]

How is that has anything to do with tech? Apart from the obvious fact that the anchor was made with tech.

 

[yRaz]

Its about time someone held captains of ships that cause serious damage responsible. Even if they are Russians.

They are saying that Finland lacks jurisdiction because they know that they are likely up for much stiffer sentences in Finland than if it was tried in an international court, IMO.

aren't undersea cables protected by international law?

 

[wiyosaya]

aren't undersea cables protected by international law?

Honestly, IDK, but if they are, I'm willing to bet there is no teeth in the consequences.

 

[BogdanR]

The only punishment Russia would understand is for the mysteriously owned tanker to mysteriously sink.

 

[dangh]

aren't undersea cables protected by international law?

The sea area between Finland and Estonia lies directly in those countries Exclusive Economic Zone belonging to those countries. There as well is more than a single body to handle issues. And countries have much stronger rights to the EEZ areas, it is not a middle of the Pacific this sabotage took place.

 

[dangh]

How is that has anything to do with tech? Apart from the obvious fact that the anchor was made with tech.

If hackers are prosecuted after they were caught destroying secure infrastructure it is normal to read it at the IT tech sites.

In this case we see an attack on the physical IT infrastructure so it is normal to have a similar attention.

 

[AlexIL]

If hackers are prosecuted after they were caught destroying secure infrastructure it is normal to read it at the IT tech sites.

In this case we see an attack on the physical IT infrastructure so it is normal to have a similar attention.

I go to tech site to read tech news, not what Russia or Ukraine did. We have that at every political news site. All the point of Techspot is that it provides strictly technological news, no politics. Otherwise it loses it's appeal. There's a tech part at BBC and CNN where I can read everything I do at Techspot.

 

[Athlonite69]

I go to tech site to read tech news, not what Russia or Ukraine did. We have that at every political news site. All the point of Techspot is that it provides strictly technological news, no politics. Otherwise it loses it's appeal. There's a tech part at BBC and CNN where I can read everything I do at Techspot.

An Undersea fiber optic cables is TECH that allows countries to connect to each other for the purpose of communications

 

[Cracken]

How is that has anything to do with tech? Apart from the obvious fact that the anchor was made with tech.

Yes the anchor was made by "tech", even more obvious is that the cable it was cutting the optical fiber cable that is critical tech infrastructure.

All very much tech related.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

I go to tech site to read tech news, not what Russia or Ukraine did. We have that at every political news site. All the point of Techspot is that it provides strictly technological news, no politics. Otherwise it loses it's appeal. There's a tech part at BBC and CNN where I can read everything I do at Techspot.

While I agree the alleged linkage to Russia is over emphasized in this article, the idea that single large ship can threaten major portions of the internet is relevant tech news (especially for nearby European readers).

Until we invent a new technology, fiber is backbone of the internet. It's always been vulnerable, but until recently people left it alone. Unfortunately, protecting thousands of miles of fiber against malicious intent with stronger sheathing is likely too expensive to be practical. So it is thought provoking on how do you protect it?

 

[Starfals]

Honestly, if they are doin that and its 100% sure they are... lol. Just sink em and be done with it. Maybe they wont do it again after that.

 

[AlexIL]

Isn't these cables supposed to be somehow protected by its own casing? It is deep under, pressure there isn't something to fool around with. Simple stupid anchor cutting them sounds too fancy. First it's precision, an anchor under the sea isn't guided missile. To me that looks like a plausible excuse of failure to blame on "Russians" or "Israelis" or "Evil Aliens", whatever is more plausible to rise prices "due to costly infrastructure repairs". That's why I hate political news on tech site. It's always some kind of bullshit to cover for another money grab later.

 

[BogdanR]

I go to tech site to read tech news, not what Russia or Ukraine did. We have that at every political news site. All the point of Techspot is that it provides strictly technological news, no politics. Otherwise it loses it's appeal. There's a tech part at BBC and CNN where I can read everything I do at Techspot.

No one is forcing you to read this article nor the comments. Yet you feel the uncontrollable urge to complain, and to continue complaining.
Why don’t you exercise your freedom of choice instead?

 

[AlexIL]

No one is forcing you to read this article nor the comments. Yet you feel the uncontrollable urge to complain, and to continue complaining.
Why don’t you exercise your freedom of choice instead?

Why don't you or you're the author of that article and butthurt? Life happens get used to it

 

[BogdanR]

Why don't you or you're the author of that article and butthurt? Life happens get used to it

Dude, you’re the one who seems to have an issue here.
You have a choice to move on, just not the capability by the look of things.
So, by all means, go ahead and continue complaining don’t let me keep you!
I have the freedom to ignore you, one that I will exercise.
Cheers!

 

[Ashford]

Dude, you’re the one who seems to have an issue here.
You have a choice to move on, just not the capability by the look of things.
So, by all means, go ahead and continue complaining don’t let me keep you!
I have the freedom to ignore you, one that I will exercise.
Cheers!

I cant speak for him, but I check this place once a week now if that.

The authors just write AI summaries of other people's work and then use alt accounts to comment... on top of that if you say something they dont like... poof... comment deleted... I say that as someone who has been coming here for years.

I suspect this comment won't last long.

 

[BogdanR]

I cant speak for him, but I check this place once a week now if that.

The authors just write AI summaries of other people's work and then use alt accounts to comment... on top of that if you say something they dont like... poof... comment deleted... I say that as someone who has been coming here for years.

I suspect this comment won't last long.

Pretty much everyone out there has gotten lazy on AI writing. There are exceptions, even on this site, but the trend is what it is, no wonder the writer profession ranks pretty high on the AI endangered list. To add insult to injury, along with all of this, original thought has withered in a sea of profoundly divisive, conflicting ideologies.

I for one started re-reading Marcus Aurelius and Seneca in which I find some lonely solace.

As for your comment, I’ve seen terrible ones (which yours isn’t) survive. I suspect yours will be safe.

 

[noel24]

Aleksey is obviously a russian government bot. If anything, I would urge fellow readers to stop feeding the troll.

 

[deathspeed]

The only punishment Russia would understand is for the mysteriously owned tanker to mysteriously sink.

Outside of anyone's jurisdiction, of course.

 

[BogdanR]

Outside of anyone's jurisdiction, of course.

Of course, the mystery would be lost then.

 

[AnilD]

Amazing how the “shadow fleet” somehow keeps accidentally finding exactly the wrong cables to run over.

 

[donnieD]

aren't undersea cables protected by international law?

So are the underwater gas pipelines, but the gloves have been off since then....

Now, seizing another country's vessel in the international waters is by the law considered a "yo ho ho" and can be quite a slippery slope if the other side now starts reciprocating the favour. Finish probably won't like the outcome and cry "faul"....

 

[dangh]

So are the underwater gas pipelines, but the gloves have been off since then....

Now, seizing another country's vessel in the international waters is by the law considered a "yo ho ho" and can be quite a slippery slope if the other side now starts reciprocating the favour. Finish probably won't like the outcome and cry "faul"....

According to international law, country can seize a vessel in its eez if this vehicle breaks laws of the country, e.g. fishing without licence. As infrastructure in eez is under country care anything affecting it should be counted as well.