Investigators in Finland are looking into a disruption of a major telecommunications cable in the Gulf of Finland last week. They found strong evidence that a ship's anchor scraped along the seabed for tens of kilometers.
The ship involved is the general cargo vessel Fitburg. It was seized by Finnish special forces on December 31 after underwater surveys showed a long trail of anchor marks that led to the damaged Elisa cable.
Finnish authorities stated on Sunday, “Based on the investigations conducted so far, there is a reason to suspect that the Fitburg vessel’s anchor and chain dragged across the seabed for at least tens of kilometers before hitting the damage point.”
The Central Criminal Police are treating this case as a potential sabotage, looking into serious damage, attempts at serious damage, and major interference with telecommunications.
Detective Chief Superintendent Risto Lohi, who leads the investigation, mentioned that authorities are currently trying to find out if the incident was accidental or intentional.
“The technical and tactical investigation is moving forward with help from several agencies. We are focusing on assessing intent and the information that affects it,” Lohi explained.
The Fitburg, registered under the flag of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, was on its way from Russia to Israel carrying steel products when it was intercepted. Finnish Border Guard helicopters and patrol boats monitored the ship before special operations teams descended onto the deck and took control in what officials called a coordinated multi-agency operation.
Underwater surveys are underway in collaboration with Estonian authorities to determine the full extent of the seabed damage. On Sunday, the Helsinki District Court ordered the arrest of one crew member, bringing the total number of crew under detention or travel restrictions to four.
All 14 crew members, who are from Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan, have been questioned since the ship was brought to the port of Kantvik.
“This case demonstrates that national and international cooperation between authorities is working effectively,” Lohi noted, referring to the joint Finnish-Estonian investigation team.
This incident occurs as the Baltic Sea is becoming recognized as a spot for potential “hybrid threats,” following several suspicious breaks in gas pipelines, power lines, and telecom cables since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Finnish officials have emphasized that the damaged cable has not affected daily communications.
“Internet usage is not reliant on a single cable,” authorities commented, explaining that internet traffic is automatically rerouted through backup systems when issues arise.
Currently, the Fitburg remains under guard while forensic analysis of equipment and materials collected on board is ongoing—a process that investigators say may take several weeks.