Investigation Underway into Vessel Linked to Telecom Cable Damage in Gulf of Finland
Finnish authorities have initiated preliminary interviews with the crew of the foreign-flagged cargo ship Fitburg, which is under suspicion for damaging a telecommunications cable in the Gulf of Finland.
Detective Chief Inspector Risto Lohi, from Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), confirmed the steps taken: “Investigative measures have been carried out on board the vessel, and the crew has been interviewed. We are currently assessing the situation and the crew’s involvement.” He noted that the cooperation displayed by the crew has been beneficial in clarifying the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Fitburg sails under the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, a small Caribbean nation, and features a diverse crew hailing from Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. While Lohi emphasized that the investigation remains in its early phases, he refrained from speculating on any potential state-level involvement, stating simply, “At this point, we are focusing on the facts at hand.”
Authorities are investigating several serious offenses, including aggravated interference with telecommunications and criminal damage. Damage to a cable operated by the telecommunications company Elisa was detected early Wednesday morning, prompting Finnish authorities to take control of the Fitburg later that day due to its suspected connection to the incident. The vessel is currently docked at Kantvik harbor in Kirkkonummi.
This incident is not isolated; several disruptions to telecommunications cables in the Gulf of Finland have been reported over the past year, often linked to foreign vessels. Lohi pointed out, “A common factor is that this cargo ship came from the direction of Russia, and the deployment of its anchor is part of the broader situation. Each case is examined meticulously and treated as a unique incident.”
Calm Amid Investigation
According to General Reporter Dan Granqvist, who observed the Fitburg from approximately 100 meters away, the atmosphere on board was notably calm as of Wednesday evening. Granqvist reported that approximately a dozen officials were conducting investigations aboard the vessel while the roads leading to the port were closed to the public.
Among the items being examined was the ship’s bridge. Some investigators arrived equipped with heavy weaponry, underscoring the seriousness of the inquiry. At approximately 7:30 PM, authorities recovered a large object from the ship, although details about its significance have yet to be revealed. As the investigation progresses, Finnish authorities remain vigilant in their efforts to understand the full scope of the incident.