Investigation Underway After Damage to Baltic Sea Subsea Data Cables

A day after the C-Lion1 and BCS subsea data cables, which connect Finland to Germany and Sweden to Lithuania, were damaged in the Baltic Sea, the specifics of the incident remain unconfirmed. This situation is reminiscent of a similar event that occurred in 2023 when the Balticonnector pipeline between Finland and Estonia was damaged. In that case, the Hong Kong-registered container vessel NewNew Polar Bear was found to have dragged its anchor across the pipeline, leading to significant concerns about maritime safety and security.

Currently, Danish authorities are investigating the Chinese bulker Yi Peng 3 as a potential suspect in the recent cable damage. As of the latest updates, AIS (Automatic Identification System) data indicates that Yi Peng 3 has left the Kattegat shipping lane and is being escorted by a Danish Navy vessel. This heightened military presence suggests that the authorities are taking the situation seriously, especially given the recent history of similar incidents.

By the time Yi Peng 3 entered Danish waters, the Danish Navy had dispatched several vessels to monitor its movements closely. Reports indicate that a Danish pilot was placed onboard Yi Peng 3 on the afternoon of November 19, as it navigated through the Danish Straits. AIS data also shows multiple Danish patrol vessels in the vicinity of Yi Peng 3, and shore-based webcams have confirmed that Navy vessels are following the ship closely.

In response to the incident, the foreign ministers of Germany and Finland issued a joint statement expressing their deep concern. They noted that the fact such incidents raise immediate suspicions of intentional damage reflects the volatility of the current geopolitical climate. The ministers emphasized that a thorough investigation is underway, highlighting that European security is threatened not only by Russia’s aggression in Ukraine but also by hybrid warfare tactics employed by malicious actors. They underscored the importance of safeguarding critical infrastructure for the security and resilience of European societies.

The increase in incidents involving damage to subsea cables and pipelines across Europe has become a pressing issue in recent years. For instance, in 2022, Norway reported that an undersea fiber optic cable connecting a satellite ground station on Svalbard to the mainland was severed, with reports suggesting a Russian vessel was seen repeatedly traversing the damaged area.

The Finnish investigation into the NewNew Polar Bear incident concluded that the vessel had dropped its anchor during a storm, dragging it over the Balticonnector pipeline. Following the incident, the vessel was spotted with a missing anchor during its first port call. After initial resistance from Chinese authorities, Finnish officials launched their own investigation, which ultimately confirmed that the damage to the pipeline was indeed caused by NewNew Polar Bear. Notably, like Yi Peng 3, NewNew Polar Bear had also departed from a Russian port prior to the incident, raising further questions about maritime safety and the potential for intentional harm to critical infrastructure.