HELSINKI (Reuters) – Finland’s power grid operator Fingrid announced on Thursday that it had filed a request with a Helsinki court to impound the Eagle S oil tanker as part of efforts to secure compensation for damages arising from the disruption of the Estlink 2 electricity cable. The incident occurred on December 25, when the undersea power cable connecting Finland and Estonia was compromised, alongside damage to four telecommunications lines. Following the occurrence, Finnish authorities boarded the Eagle S the next day under suspicion of potentially causing the damage by dragging its anchor along the seabed.
In a region already on edge due to a series of disruptions to power cables, telecommunications links, and gas pipelines following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Baltic Sea nations remain vigilant. NATO recently declared intentions to enhance its presence in the area as a response to the escalating situation.
Fingrid released a statement revealing their petition to the Helsinki District Court to officially take possession of the Eagle S in order to bolster their financial claims. The company expressed optimism that ongoing assessments at the site of the incident would yield crucial insights into the scope of the damages, facilitating more precise planning and coordination for necessary repairs.
Legal representatives for Caravella LLC FZ, a United Arab Emirates-based entity owning the vessel, have yet to issue a response to requests for commentary. The owners had previously sought the release of the vessel by Finnish authorities.
(Reporting by Anna Ringstrom, editing by Terje Solsvik)
