On Friday, 3 January 2025, the Finnish authorities confirmed they continue having the crude oil tanker Eagle S and its crew impounded in Finnish territorial waters. The vessel, reportedly part of the “Russian shadow fleet”, and those onboard are suspected of sabotaging important power and communication cables in the Baltic Sea.
Owner of the Cook Islands registered Eagle S, shipping company presented by lawyer firm Herman Ljungberg, asked the Finnish court of justice to let the ship and its crew – 20 people from India and Georgia – go. But the judge said no, pending the ongoing investigation in the ship’s suspected sabotage actions on 28 December 2024. On that day, the power cable Estlink 2 and four data cables between Finland and Estonia were severely damaged.
Scrambled helicopters
After Finnish police and boarder guards landed on the crude oil tanker, rappelling down from two scrambled helicopters (one from the armed forces, one from the border guards), they found the ship’s anchor showing damages that could be linked to the damaged cables. Moreover, Scandinavian media reported that the authorities found advanced electronic spy equipment on board useful to monitor NATO aeroplanes and ships – or equipment far from needed for normal oil tanker operations.
Russian shadow fleet
The found has led to further suspicions that the Eagle S is part of the so-called Russian shadow fleet, merchant ships with often a somewhat unclear ownership that transport goods in and out of Russia – by-passing the international sanctions by e.g. the European Union and the United States against the Russian government, Russian president Vladimir Putin and a multiple number of high-placed Russians and their companies. The sanctions were installed after Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
Wave of subsea damages
Eagle S’s suspected sabotage comes just shortly after another vessel, the Chinese Yi Peng 3, was let go by Danish authorities in a recent wave of subsea damages in the Baltics – either by accident or on purpose. In reaction to the most recent damages, the Estonian Coast Guard was first out with sending regular patrols of the cables. It subsequently was followed by commitment by NATO to start patrolling the area more often.
Repair to last until July
The Finnish central crime investigating police CPK has said to Finnish media that the investigation of the role of the Eagle S is likely to continue for several weeks to several months. Repairs of the Estlink 2 power line are expected to last until July this year and will cost tens of millions of euros, according to Finnish grid operator Fingrid. | © 2025 Marcel Burger, nordicreporter.com. Featured photo: the Eagle S against the backdrop of Porvoo island, Finland (Photo: Htm (CC)).