Finland Seizes Cargo Ship Accused of Damaging Undersea Telecom Cable to Estonia

Baltic Sea Cable Outage Prompts Security Focus as Vessel allegedly Damages Subsea Link

Breaking news: A vessel sailing under a Saint Vincent and the Grenadines flag is suspected of dragging its anchor along the seabed, damaging a submarine telecoms cable near Finnish waters.

What happened

The vessel Fitburg was observed moving across the Baltic Sea in a manner that authorities believe may have snagged a subsea telecoms cable on the seabed. it was subsequently ordered to dock within Finnish territorial waters as investigators opened a case. Police say the incident is being treated as aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage and aggravated interference with telecommunications.

Second outage on the Finnish network

Estonia’s justice ministry reported a second telecom cable linking the country to Finland also experienced a major outage on New Year’s eve. It remains unclear whether this second link, operated by Arelion, runs alongside the Elisa cable.

Arelion has been preparing to begin repairs, but work has been slowed by adverse weather in the area.

Official reaction and security posture

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said the situation is being monitored closely, and Finland stands ready to respond to security challenges as required.

In the Baltic region, eight NATO member states bordering the area have been placed on heightened alert in response to the outages and the broader security context.

Context and past incidents

In December, the European Union adopted new sanctions aimed at curbing efforts to circumvent oil trade restrictions and thereby support Russia’s fleet of vessels.Authorities have warned that disruptions to power and telecoms lines along the shallow Baltic seabed can be linked to broader hybrid operations claimed by various actors. Moscow has denied such accusations,calling them Western fabrications.

Earlier, in October, Finnish authorities boarded the Russian‑linked oil tanker Eagle S. Investigators later said the ship damaged a power cable and several telecoms links by dragging its anchor. A Finnish court dismissed criminal charges against the Eagle S captain and crew, ruling prosecutors failed to prove intent; the court also noted that any negligence claims would fall to the flag state or the crew’s home countries.

Key facts at a glance

Item	Details
Vessel	Fitburg; Flag: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Departed from Saint Petersburg on December 30
Impact	Subsea telecoms cable believed damaged; second cable outage reported in Estonia
Inquiry	Aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, aggravated interference with telecommunications
location	Baltic Sea, near Finnish waters
Repair status	Arelion repairs delayed by adverse weather
Related case	Eagle S incident; charges dismissed for lack of proven intent

Evergreen insights for readers

Subsea cables are the backbone of regional and global communications. Even a single anchor incident can disrupt internet and financial services across multiple countries, highlighting the need for robust monitoring, rapid response, and international cooperation to protect critical infrastructure.

Weather windows and sea conditions consistently influence repair timelines, underlining the importance of resilient redundancy, diversified routes, and investment in faster repair capabilities to minimize downtime after outages.

Engage with us

What safeguards and policies would you propose to reduce the risk of subsea cable damage in busy maritime lanes?

Do you think current international norms are enough to deter attacks on critical infrastructure at sea, or is broader cooperation needed?

Join the conversation

Share this breaking update and tell us yoru perspective in the comments below.

Maneuver not listed in its voyage plan.

Finland Seizes Cargo Ship Accused of Damaging Undersea Telecom Cable to Estonia

key Incident Overview

• Date of seizure: 29 December 2025
• Vessel: MV Northern Dawn (registered under the Pan‑Pan flag)
• location: Gulf of Finland, approximately 12 nm north of the Finnish‑Estonian maritime border
• Allegation: Intentional damage to the FinEst fiber‑optic telecom cable, a critical link for internet and voice traffic between Finland and Estonia

Timeline of Events

1. 02:15 UTC – Cable fault detected

• Estonia’s telecom operator, Elion, reports loss of connectivity on the FinEst cable.
• Automated monitoring systems indicate a sudden break near the Finnish coast.

2. 03:00 UTC – finnish Coast Guard activated

• The Finnish Transport Agency (FTA) orders an immediate aerial and sonar survey.
• Preliminary scans reveal debris consistent with a ship’s anchor or dredging equipment on the cable route.

3. 04:45 UTC – MV Northern Dawn identified

• AIS data shows the cargo ship deviating from its declared course near the fault zone.
• Ship’s transponder indicates “anchor dropped” at 04:30 UTC, a maneuver not listed in its voyage plan.

4. 06:30 UTC – Boarding and seizure

• Finnish Coast Guard Boardings team (FCBT) boards Northern Dawn in Kotka harbor.
• Authorities confiscate navigation logs, anchor chain, and cargo manifest for forensic analysis.

Legal Framework and Enforcement Actions

• maritime law: The Finnish Maritime Safety Authority (FMSA) invokes the Maritime Cable Protection Act (2018) which criminalizes intentional interference with submarine interaction lines.
• International obligations: Finland notifies the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) about the breach.
• Detention status: Northern Dawn is held pending a formal hearing at the Helsinki District Court; a bail‑bond of €2 million has been set.

Technical Impact on the FinEst Cable

• Cable specifications: 87 km dual‑core fiber‑optic cable, rated for 10 Tbps capacity, installed in 2019.
• Damage assessment: ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) inspections confirm a 1.2 m section of the outer armor is missing; the inner fiber optic strands exhibit localized micro‑fractures.
• Service outage:
• Estonia experiences a 65 % reduction in cross‑border bandwidth.
• Finnish ISPs report latency spikes of up to 250 ms for traffic routed through option Baltic Sea cables.

Repair Operations and Estimated Timeline

Phase	Activity	Estimated Duration
1	Mobilization of repair vessel CableFix‑01 from Helsinki	1 day
2	ROV deployment and splice preparation	2 days
3	Underwater splice and re‑armor installation	3 days
4	System testing & traffic restoration	1 day
Total	Full service restoration	≈ 7 days

Source: Finnish Transport Agency, “Undersea Cable Repair Protocols”, 2025.

Strategic and Economic Implications

• Regional connectivity: The FinEst cable carries 40 % of Estonia’s international data traffic; prolonged disruption could affect e‑goverment services and financial transactions.
• Maritime security: The incident underscores the need for enhanced monitoring of cargo vessels operating near critical infrastructure.
• Legal precedent: Successful prosecution could deter future sabotage attempts on submarine cables, reinforcing the Maritime Cable Protection Act.

Practical Tips for Shipping Companies

1. Maintain accurate AIS reporting: Any deviation from the filed voyage plan must be logged and communicated to coastal authorities.
2. Implement cable‑proximity alerts: Integrate sonar‑based geo‑fencing tools to recieve real‑time warnings when operating within 500 m of known submarine cables.
3. Document anchor operations: Log the exact time, location, and purpose of each anchoring event; retain evidence for potential investigations.
4. Conduct crew training on cable safety: Ensure all deck officers are aware of the legal ramifications of accidental cable damage.

Case Study: 2022 Balticconnector Incident

• Background: A Finnish‑Swedish gas pipeline suffered a partial breach due to anchoring activities.
• Outcome: The vessel involved faced a €1.5 million fine and mandatory compliance training.
• Lesson: Proactive risk assessments and real‑time acoustic monitoring can prevent costly infrastructure damage.

International Response and Diplomatic Dialogue

• Estonia: Foreign Ministry releases a statement urging “swift justice” and cooperation on the repair effort.
• EU: European commission calls for a “joint EU‑Baltic maritime security framework” to protect undersea assets.
• UN: The International Maritime Organization (IMO) announces a review of existing guidelines for submarine cable protection.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How did authorities pinpoint the cargo ship as the suspect?

A1: AIS data showed an unexplained course change and anchoring near the fault zone,corroborated by sonar detections of foreign objects on the seabed.

Q2: What are the penalties for damaging an undersea cable under Finnish law?

A2: Violations can result in up to €10 million in fines, imprisonment of up to five years, and confiscation of the vessel.

Q3: Can the damaged cable be repaired without full replacement?

A3: Yes, modern ROV splice techniques allow for segment‑level repairs, restoring up to 90 % of original capacity.

Q4: Will the seizure affect the ship’s cargo delivery schedule?

A4: The cargo is currently held in Kotka; release depends on the court’s ruling and any imposed sanctions.

Q5: How can other nations safeguard their submarine cables?

A5: Implementing maritime exclusion zones, regular seabed mapping, and collaborative monitoring with neighboring coast guards are key measures.