Finland declares Russian tanker unseaworthy after damaging cable

Finnish authorities have declared the detained tanker Eagle S, which damaged undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, unseaworthy after on-board inspections. This is reported by Bloomberg, citing a statement from the Finnish transport and communications agency Traficom.

According to the results of the inspection of the state port control on the Eagle S, a vessel belonging to the Russian shadow fleet, 32 malfunctions were found.

Three malfunctions were serious enough to suspend the operation of the vessel — they concerned fire safety, navigation equipment and ventilation in the pump room, Traficom said.

“Before the vessel can continue its journey, Traficom must check whether the deficiencies have been eliminated or that the flag state has drawn up a repair plan,” – the transport agency said in a statement.

Finland detained the Eagle S tanker, which was carrying Russian oil, in late December on suspicion of damaging the Finnish-Estonian power line Estlink 2. The country's police found traces on the bottom of the Baltic Sea that probably belong to the tanker's anchor. The anchor itself was later found and raised from the bottom of the Gulf of Finland. The vessel is still under detention on suspicion of deliberately damaging the cable, and a Finnish court has refused to release it.