Mysterious trace in the bottom of the Baltic Sea: Did Eagle S” damage the cable?

Mysterious trace in the bottom of the Baltic Sea: Did Eagle S” damage the cable?

After an underwater power line failed in the Baltic Sea, Finnish investigators discovered a suspicious drag mark on the seabed. This trail stretches for dozens of kilometers and raises suspicions that the oil tanker “Eagle S” dragged its anchor on the ground, which could have led to the damage to the cable. The “Eagle S”, which sails under the Cook Islands flag, is part of the so-called Russian shadow fleet, which is used to circumvent sanctions on oil transport. Investigators are carrying out technical examinations on board the ship and questioning the crew, while bad weather at sea complicates the investigation.

The Estlink2 power connection between Finland and Estonia failed at Christmas, and there were also disruptions on several communication cables in the Baltic Sea. The exact location where the anchor came loose has not yet been located and police emphasize that the investigation is still at an early stage Süddeutsche.de reported.

Russia and the Shadow Fleet

Despite an existing oil embargo, Russia continues its trade in crude oil and petroleum products across the world's oceans. A ZDF team reported on an incident in August 2023 in the Gulf of Finland, where several tankers were waiting to be admitted to Russian ports within sight of the Estonian coast. These tankers transported sanctioned oil loaded in Russia, particularly at the Ust-Luga and Primorsk oil ports, where around 1.6 million tons of Russian oil were handled in August 2023.

An Estonian skipper reported an increasing number of ships in the region due to the sanctions. Many of these tankers are over 20 years old and are rarely inspected for seaworthiness, increasing the risk of accidents and possible oil spills in the Baltic Sea. In particular, the tanker “Limo”, built in 2000 and registered in Cameroon, was discovered, which was last inspected in June 2019, although inspections should normally take place once or twice a year. This tanker belongs to a shadow fleet that was active before the Russian embargo.

Windward reported a “dark tanker fleet” with around 1,100 ships, around 900 of which have been added since sanctions against Russia began. Russian tankers are also transferring Russian oil to other ships off the coast of Greece, making it difficult to trace the oil's origin. Russia also announced a major exercise to protect its sea routes in the Baltic Sea, suggesting an increased military presence, such as ZDF reported.