Tanker Detained Over Power Cable Debacle: Finland's Courts and the Shadow Fleet

Finland's power grid operator has asked the court to seize the Eagle S oil tanker after damages to the undersea Estlink 2 electricity interconnector. Finnish authorities suspect the tanker caused the damage by dragging its anchor. The incident raises concerns amid other disruptions in the Baltic Sea.

Finland's national power grid operator sought legal intervention on Thursday, urging a Helsinki court to seize the Eagle S oil tanker. This action stems from the company's efforts to secure claims for damages linked to the failure of the undersea Estlink 2 electricity interconnector.

The undersea cable, running between Finland and Estonia, suffered damage on December 25, impacting four telecom lines. Finnish officials boarded the tanker, which was transporting Russian oil, under suspicions that it may have dragged its anchor and caused the damage. The region remains vigilant following multiple outages of energy-related infrastructure since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, prompting NATO to increase its presence.

Fingrid stated it had appealed to the Helsinki District Court to seize the vessel, thereby securing its financial interests. The ongoing investigation is expected to provide further details about the damages and facilitate repair plans. Meanwhile, Finnish authorities believe that Eagle S operates as part of a shadow fleet circumventing oil sanctions on Russia.

(With inputs from agencies.)