Gulf of Finland cable damage linked to ship carrying sanctioned goods
Finland detained Fitburg vessel (illustrative photo: flickr by emdjt42)
The vessel Fitburg, whose crew members are suspected of damaging an underwater cable between Finland and Estonia, was carrying sanctioned steel products. It was sailing from Russia to Israel, according to a statement by Finnish Customs, ERR reported.
Finnish Customs did not specify where exactly the steel products in question were manufactured. However, it is worth noting that in 2022 the European Union imposed a package of sanctions against Russia that, among other things, included a ban on imports of Russian steel.
Finnish media reported that the situation on board the detained vessel Fitburg on Wednesday evening, December 31, was calm, and that fewer than 10 officers carried out investigative actions on the ship. The road to the port was closed.
Law enforcement officers, in particular, inspected the captain's bridge, and at around 19:30, one large object was removed from the vessel.
According to Helsingin Sanomat photographer Kimmo Penttinen, a now-secured anchor was visible near the side of the ship, which was likely used to damage the communications cable.
"The anchor looks rusty. It has been lifted from the water at the stern of the vessel and secured," Penttinen said.
Cable damage
The telecommunications company Elisa reported damage to an underwater cable in the Gulf of Finland yesterday, December 31.
After that, Finland detained the vessel Fitburg, which was in the area where the cable runs, when it was damaged.
As later became known, the vessel had departed from the Russian port of Saint Petersburg and was heading to Israel under the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
