- Georgian and Indian nationals accused of dragging anchor 90 km.
- Defendants deny charges and dispute Finnish jurisdiction.
- Eagle S damaged Estlink 2 power link and four internet cables.
On Monday, Finland’s national prosecutor’s office revealed that charges have been filed against the captain and the first and second officers of the Eagle S oil tanker. This comes from the cutting of undersea cables in the Gulf of Finland back in December, reports Reuters.
Allegations and Nationalities
The individuals facing charges are from Georgia and India, and they stand accused of aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with communications. Prosecutors claim that the incident took place when the ship dragged its anchor for about 90 km (56 miles) along the seabed.
The prosecutors have made it clear that the defendants are not allowed to leave Finland. They’ve denied any wrongdoing and argue that Finland doesn’t have jurisdiction over the case since the incident occurred outside of Finnish waters.
Cables and Damage Incurred
Finnish authorities report that the Eagle S, which is registered in the Cook Islands, caused damage to the Estlink 2 undersea power cable that connects Finland and Estonia, along with four internet lines.
“The owners of the cables have suffered a total of at least 60 million euros ($70 million) in immediate damage in the form of repair costs alone,” the prosecutors’ office said.
Security Concerns in the Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea region is currently on high alert due to concerns over sabotage, especially after several incidents involving outages of power cables, gas pipelines, and telecom lines. While it’s true that subsea infrastructure can suffer from technical issues or accidents, prosecutors have pointed out that the Eagle S incident posed significant risks to energy supply and telecommunications in Finland. Thankfully, services were kept running through alternative connections.
Jurisdiction Dispute
A lawyer representing Caravella LLC FZ, the company based in the United Arab Emirates that owns the Eagle S, has previously argued that Helsinki doesn’t have the authority to intervene in this matter. As of Monday, the lawyer had not responded to requests for comments.
Next Steps in Legal Proceedings
The prosecutors’ office has confirmed that a local court will soon set a date for a hearing and will determine if the case falls under Finnish jurisdiction.
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Source: Reuters
