Undersea Cables in Baltic Sea Damaged; Investigators Suspect Sabotage by Chinese Vessel
Two underwater communication cables in the Baltic Sea were damaged this month. One cable connects Finland and Germany, and the other links Sweden and Lithuania.
The cable connecting Finland and Germany was repaired after being broken on November 18th. The Finnish company “Cinia” announced that the cable is fully operational again. “The repair was completed slightly ahead of schedule,” said Ari Jussi Knäpila, CEO of “Cinia.”
On November 17th, the “Arelion” cable from Gotland, Sweden, to Lithuania was also damaged. This cable has been restored and is functioning normally, according to a representative from “Arelion.”
Reports of the damage to the “C-Lion 1” cable, which connects Helsinki and Rostock, Germany, came on November 18th, a day after the damage to the “Arelion” cable was reported. Both incidents occurred in Sweden’s exclusive economic zone.
A joint investigation team from Finland, Sweden, and Lithuania has been established. Investigators are particularly interested in a Chinese cargo ship named “Yi Peng 3.” This ship may have crossed both cables when they were damaged.
There are suspicions that the “Yi Peng 3” deliberately dragged its anchor for more than 160 kilometers across the Baltic Sea, damaging both cables, as reported by the “Wall Street Journal” (WSJ).
**People Also Asked:**
Interview with Dr. Lars Johansen, Undersea Cable Specialist
NewsDirectory3.com: Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Johansen. Can you briefly summarize the recent incidents involving the underwater cables in the Baltic Sea?
Dr. Lars Johansen: Certainly. We had two significant incidents involving underwater communication cables this month—one connecting Finland and Germany, known as the “C-Lion 1,” and the other connecting sweden and Lithuania via Arelion.The Arelion cable was reported damaged on November 17th,and repairs were confirmed to be complete shortly after. The C-Lion 1 cable sustained damage shortly thereafter, on November 18th, but has also since been restored.
NewsDirectory3.com: There are concerns regarding a Chinese vessel, the “Yi Peng 3,” perhaps being linked to these incidents. What details have emerged about its involvement?
Dr. Lars Johansen: Investigations indicate that the “Yi Peng 3” may have damaged the cables while reportedly dragging its anchor for a significant distance—over 160 kilometers—across the Baltic Sea. It anchored in Swedish waters on November 17th before the damage to the arelion cable was reported. Importantly, the vessel’s automatic identification system was turned off during the timeframe of the incidents, which raises further suspicion about its operations.
NewsDirectory3.com: Have any immediate implications been drawn from these cable damages regarding security in the Baltic sea?
Dr. Lars Johansen: Yes, regional leaders, including Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, have expressed significant concern, stating that the Baltic Sea is now considered a high-risk area due to these incidents. The damaged cables are crucial for communication and data transfer in the region, so their disruption has not only technical implications but also heightened geopolitical tensions.
NewsDirectory3.com: What steps are authorities taking in response to these events?
Dr. Lars Johansen: A joint examination team from Finland, Sweden, and Lithuania has been established to delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding the cable damages. They are especially focused on the “Yi Peng 3,” including whether its actions were deliberate and if there were any ties to external influences such as Russian intelligence. The situation is being treated as a possible case of sabotage, and investigators continue to analyze evidence from the cable damage sites.
NewsDirectory3.com: Given the nature of these events, what can be done moving forward to secure underwater cables against potential sabotage?
dr. Lars Johansen: There are several measures that can be implemented.First, enhanced monitoring of maritime traffic in sensitive areas, particularly using technology that tracks vessel movements even when identification systems are turned off, is critical. Additionally, regular inspections of underwater cables and improved coordination between countries on maritime security can definitely help prevent such incidents in the future. Diplomatic engagement is also vital to address underlying tensions that may lead to such unfriendly actions.
NewsDirectory3.com: Thank you, Dr. Johansen, for sharing your insights on this critical issue affecting regional security and communication.
Dr. Lars Johansen: Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to discuss these important matters.
Investigators found that the ship, which left the Russian port of Ust-Luga with a cargo of fertilizer, dropped anchor in Swedish waters on November 17th around 9 PM without stopping. Shortly after this, the cable between Sweden and Lithuania was damaged. At that time, the ship’s automatic identification system was turned off. Satellite data indicated that the ship continued moving with an anchor in the water, which slowed its speed significantly.
The WSJ noted that around 3 AM, after traveling approximately 178 kilometers, the “Yi Peng 3” damaged the second cable connecting Finland and Germany. Danish maritime forces were then sent to instruct the Chinese ship to anchor in international waters between Denmark and Sweden.
According to WSJ, the ship’s hull showed damage consistent with dragging an anchor and damaging underwater cables. The crew of the Chinese ship has not yet been questioned.
Investigators are trying to determine if the captain of the 225-meter-long Chinese vessel received orders from Russian intelligence services to commit sabotage.
Swedish and Finnish authorities announced on Wednesday that the investigation at the cable damage sites in the Baltic Sea is complete. They confirmed that the analysis of evidence from the site is ongoing and that deliberate damage is still considered a possibility. The police confirmed that the incident is still being investigated as a case of sabotage.