Finnish authorities seized an oil tanker on Thursday, suspecting its involvement in sabotaging critical undersea cables. The ship, named Eagle S, may be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” a group of unmarked tankers designed to bypass Western sanctions. The tanker, registered in the Cook Islands, was detained in Finnish waters after traveling from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Port Said, Egypt.
The Finnish police are investigating whether the tanker was connected to the recent attacks on Finland’s undersea cables. On Wednesday, the Estlink 2 submarine cable, which carries electricity between Finland and Estonia, was cut, along with four other data cables. Finnish authorities have labeled the damage as “aggravated vandalism” and are working to determine the ship’s involvement in the sabotage.
The authorities suspect that the Eagle S may be part of Russia’s shadow fleet, which was created to evade Western-imposed oil price caps following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. These tankers often sail under foreign flags, making them difficult to trace to Russia, and deliver oil to countries like China and India, which are not subject to the sanctions.
Since the sanctions were enacted, almost 70 percent of Russia’s oil has reportedly been transported by shadow tankers, according to an analysis by the Kyiv School of Economics. This has raised concerns that these tankers could be used not only to bypass sanctions but also for covert operations like sabotaging Finland’s undersea cables. Recent incidents of damaged infrastructure in European waters have heightened security fears.
Finland’s investigation into the Eagle S could uncover a wider network involved in targeting undersea cables, which are vital for energy and communication. The seizure of the tanker highlights the importance of protecting Finland’s undersea cables and maritime routes from potential sabotage, especially amid rising geopolitical tensions.
