Sweden seizes cargo ship after another undersea cable hit in suspected sabotage
- Reference: 1737984309
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/01/27/sweden_seizes_ship/
- Source link:
The cable runs between the Latvian town of Ventspils and Sweden's Gotland island and belongs to the Latvian State Radio and Television Center (LVRTC). Vezhen is sailing under the flag of Malta, and its historical movements can be viewed [1]here , showing it passing close to the relevant position, which does not necessarily prove involvement.
The region is already on high alert after two subsea cables in the Baltic owned by Finnish telco Elisa and the Finnish-Estonian Estlink 2 subsea power line were damaged on [2]Christmas Day in the Gulf of Finland. The [3]C-Lion1 cable and BCS East-West Interlink submarine cable were also hit in November last year.
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As for the cable breakage over this past weekend, Swedish security forces were contacted by Latvia, which was first to grok the disturbances in the cable, and began a preliminary probe yesterday, the National Unit for Security Cases said in a statement. Senior Prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist [5]said (translated from Swedish): "We are now carrying out a number of concrete investigative measures, but I cannot go into what they consist of due to the ongoing preliminary investigation."
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Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina said the country was coordinating with its NATO allies after damage was detected in the Ventspils-Gotland section of the [8]LVRTC fiber optic network. "We have determined that there is most likely external damage and that it is significant," Silina [9]told reporters (translated) after an extraordinary government meeting.
NATO's newest member comes out swinging following latest Baltic Sea cable attack [10]READ MORE
Sweden, NATO's newest member, already deployed three warships and a surveillance airplane [11]earlier this month to help the EU's efforts to prevent more subsea cable sabotage.
Over the past months, several underwater fiber optic cables in the region have suffered faults, with many suspecting sabotage by Russia's [12]shadow fleet [PDF]. The existence of the fleet is practical, to evade sanctions, a European Parliamentary briefing was told in December.
Its ships make use of "flags of convenience" and ownership is hidden within nested, intricate shells, all the while the vessels' captains make use of a variety of tactics to conceal the cargo's origins through "ship-to-ship transfers; automatic identification system blackouts; falsified positions; transmission of false data; and other deceptive or even illegal techniques." Parliament was told the shadow fleet is being used to build up Russia's war chest and maintain oil exports. The "aging and poorly maintained vessels" in the shadow fleet operate with "minimal regard" for rules and regulations, meaning they're a "significant" risk in terms of environmental and maritime safety, as well as overall security.
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While some suspect the damage was deliberately caused by the anchors of hostile states' ships dragging along the seabed, others have speculated that the recent proliferation of scrapheap vessels are crewed by less than competent sailors who are dropping anchor while under way without a clue about controlling descent or clearing obstacles.
[14]Europe glances Russia's way after Baltic Sea data cables severed
[15]Chinese ship casts shadow over Baltic subsea cable snipfest
[16]Submarine cable resilience board announced on same day maybe-cut-by-China Baltic cable repaired
[17]Russia's top-secret military unit reportedly plots undersea cable 'sabotage'
The UK Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, [18]told British parliament on January 24 that a "Russian spy ship, used for gathering intelligence and mapping the UK's critical underwater infrastructure" was spotted on Monday last week in British waters.
The Royal Navy sent a Royal Air Force maritime patrol aircraft, along with three vessels – HMS Cattistock, HMS Tyne, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary Proteus – to shadow its every movement. The Russian vessel, Yantar, entered the UK exclusive economic zone about 45 miles (72 km) off the British coast on January 20, but later moved towards the North sea, said Healey.
He also confirmed he'd authorized a Royal Navy submarine to surface close to Yantar – strictly as a deterrent – to demonstrate it had been covertly monitored. "The ship then left UK waters without further loitering, and sailed down to the Mediterranean," he added.
[19]Admiral Pierre Vandier , NATO's supreme allied commander transformation, [20]said in December that a NATO project of submarine drones specifically designed to patrol undersea cables is close to being operational. The robotic naval force, under the auspices of the Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), will have its first elements ready to sail by the NATO summit in June 2025 so that "NATO can see and monitor daily its environment," he said.
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The US already has a naval drone arm, Task Force 59, and trials autonomous and piloted naval drones in an offshoot force, Task Force 59.1.
An investigation into December's Finnish cable debacle is still under way. Police seized the Eagle S tanker, which they said was carrying Russian oil, last month on suspicion the vessel was behind the rupture at the Estlink 2 power line and four telecoms cables. They believe the damage was done by the vessel dragging its anchor along the seabed. Finland's cops [22]said earlier this month they had found an anchor in the Gulf of Finland they believe belonged to Eagle S and which they are forensically inspecting to see if it was involved in the cable ruptures on Christmas Day. ®
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[1] https://www.myshiptracking.com/?mmsi=229659000
[2] https://elisa.com/corporate/news-room/press-releases/elisa-has-faults-with-submarine-cable-connections-in-the-gulf-of-finland/84676892861831/
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/19/baltic_sea_cables_cut/
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2Z5e7tx54Ytz0ztFCF7VtjwAAABA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.aklagare.se/nyheter-press/pressmeddelanden/2025/januari/forundersokning-inledd-efter-kabelbrott-i-ostersjon/
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Z5e7tx54Ytz0ztFCF7VtjwAAABA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Z5e7tx54Ytz0ztFCF7VtjwAAABA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.lvrtc.lv/en/services/lease-of-optical-fibers/
[9] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA8lr1abfkQ
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/13/sweden_baltic_cable_attack/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/13/sweden_baltic_cable_attack/
[12] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2024/766242/EPRS_BRI(2024)766242_EN.pdf
[13] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Z5e7tx54Ytz0ztFCF7VtjwAAABA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/19/baltic_sea_cables_cut/
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/21/chinese_ship_baltic_cable/
[16] https://www.theregister.com/2024/12/02/cable_advisory_board/
[17] https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/09/russia_readies_submarine_cable_sabotage/
[18] https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025-01-22/debates/7DB30945-1C23-48E1-A629-B113C53CD9E2/RussianMaritimeActivityAndUKResponse
[19] https://www.act.nato.int/team-member/admiral-pierre-vandier/
[20] https://www.theregister.com/2024/12/05/nato_navy_drone/
[21] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Z5e7tx54Ytz0ztFCF7VtjwAAABA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[22] https://poliisi.fi/en/-/anchor-allegedly-involved-in-cable-ruptures-on-christmas-day-recovered-in-gulf-of-finland
[23] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: You know, bad weather can sink bad ships
Shooting a boat, several of which have been found to be merely incompetent than malicious, and killing all on board is a bit drastic just because your cable in international waters was sliced a little.
What you do is not just leave a cable on the sea-bed and presume it'll work forever, but instead guard it (e.g. robot sub idea as per the article) and then you can just watch anyone who goes near it and seize the vessel if they're not competent or are being malicious.
There aren't enough undersea cables to worry about and a single military ship could just do that and nothing else - especially as they are incredibly important cables.
That nobody has been protecting their cables up until now and we've all only just thought of it (and they haven't done it to other countries or the ones that cross the Pacific and Atlantic) kind of tells you that it's more of a problem that you're not guarding it, and less a problem of having a cable in the ocean generally.
Re: You know, bad weather can sink bad ships
There aren't enough undersea cables to worry about and a single military ship could just do that and nothing else
Really? There are something approaching a million miles worth of cables and pipes criss-crossing ocean floors worldwide. Of course with considerable effort and expense the ones in the Baltic could be better protected than they are now but even within that limited area watching every bit of infrastructure sufficiently to pre-empt attacks is clearly infeasible without drastic and inflammatory forced changes to centuries old international shipping laws. And then the attacks will just migrate to less well monitored areas (calling it now).
For Russia one 'ageing and poorly maintained vessel' traded for a cable out of action for months plus the distraction and resource commitment of NATO's response is presumably a very good deal. What needs to happen is to gather enough evidence to trace the attacks up the chain of command followed by some kind of proportionate response that greatly increases the cost beyond impounded vessels. Assuming is it the Kremlin ordering them, then sadly a lot of the potential proportionate responses have been used up already so hopefully somebody is able to get creative and we don't end up with NATO cruise missiles bombarding Russia oilfields or something similarly dangerous.
Re: You know, bad weather can sink bad ships
but a small shaped explosive charge on the hull, that is made to look like an internal bang is easy to do for some nations and fixes a lot of problems, while allow safe evacuation of the crew and if it doesn't sink, an empty ship in international waters becomes legal salvage !!
"a small shaped explosive charge .... fixes a lot of problems"
It might be worth considering that sinking a ship full of oil within a relatively small body of water surrounded by the precious coastlines of your allies may create more problems than it solves.
For the same reason, I have refrained from proposing that the number of "shadow fleet" ships that just happen to get mysterious fishing-nets and ropes entangled in their propellors should see a tragic and unfortunate rise. It is a nice day-dream, but the real world consequences should be investigated first.
Re: You know, bad weather can sink bad ships
> while allow safe evacuation of the crew
Most of the crew will be Indonesian / Bangladeshi, ie. brown and in a rubber boat - so the Royal Navy would be required to sink them ?
Re: You know, bad weather can sink bad ships
"Shooting a boat, several of which have been found to be merely incompetent than malicious, and killing all on board is a bit drastic just because your cable in international waters was sliced a little."
Yes, but if the intention IS malicious then the next merchant captain to put his nuts on the block may think twice. These attacks are nation state coordinated and that sir or madame is an act of war.
You don't drag a massive ship anchor a hundred nautical miles without the ship master knowing and approving it. Alternatively, seize and sell the ship to cover the cable repair costs.
Re: You know, bad weather can sink bad ships
Nobody wants to deal with the clean-up! I suggest seizing cargo to cover "administrative costs" and fines for lacking/defective navigational & safety equipment
Re: You know, bad weather can sink bad ships
>fines for lacking/defective navigational & safety equipment
Shipping Company , #1 above the Kebab Shop, Valetta, Malta has been fined $10M and closed
Shipping Company B, #1 above the Kebab Shop, Valetta, Malta, has opened.
Re: You know, bad weather can sink bad ships
And there's no good weather in which to be hit by a torpedo.
Re: You know, bad weather can sink bad ships
Most of the ships in this shadow fleet are pretty much scrap, so it wouldn't be a great financial loss. Bringing it into port and finding out as much as you can from the ship and crew and putting the "Maltese" owners under pressure might bring greater reward.
Re: You know, bad weather can sink bad ships
And one would surmise that the crew mostly know very little and would be considered expendable.
Someone (usually the captain) will have been paid some money (usually Dollars or Euros) to do something and the crew will just be doing what they are told. They will not question it simply because they are not paid enough.
If you arrest the crew the chances of making any sort of legal case stick are very limited and would probably cost more that it is worth.
Impound the ship and any cargo - confiscate what you can and if it is not seaworthy scrap the hull. At least that prevents it being reused.
Once is Happenstance, Twice is Coincidence
three Four times.. Even [1]Sal of wgowshipping (the only youtuber whom I currently bother giving my time to) is suspicious
[1] https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TrT1Pl3pR6Y
Re: Once is Happenstance, Twice is Coincidence
Counterpoint - why do something so obvious?
Re: Once is Happenstance, Twice is Coincidence
It's obvious yet still 'deniable'. Like shooting down passenger aircraft or planting grenades on board, shoving people out of windows, or staging a military training exercise on your border that turns into a special military operation, which turns out to be an invasion, which turns into a war
It's pretty much their M.O.
It's deliberately obvious, to try to send a message "here is the price of joining NATO and supporting Ukraine", while being just deniable enough to avoid directly triggering Article 5
Re: Once is Happenstance, Twice is Coincidence
Because it's really, really easy. Essentially zero cost, with a relatively high impact in making the enemy (us) expend resources repairing the cable- and adding extra backup capacity in case these cuts happen again.
No-one's going to start a war over cutting one of the cables crossing a watermass, especially when there are others to- at least partially- take the strain.
Re: Once is Happenstance, Twice is Coincidence
Closing the Baltic to international shipping would also have a relatively high financial impact to Russia.
Or just introduce "stringent" safety standards for ships
But are they accidents....
Interestingly there's some suggestion from the Yanks that these incidents are being over-egged. These pre-date Trump.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/01/19/russia-baltic-undersea-cables-accidents-sabotage/
Re: But are they accidents....
You're quoting from The Bezos Bugle?
Brown trouser time
Bet the captain of the Yantar had to go change his underwear and have a stiff vodka when the sub surfaced - that's basica the RN saying "Do you feel lucky...?"
Re: Brown trouser time
The submarine you can see is not the submarine you worry about.
Grok
I know that English is a wonderfully flexible language and that meanings change over time, but I am sorry that this particular word has changed so much in only 64 years. The article could have said "noticed" and most would understand.
Example of one version of the original definition:- "Grok means to understand so thoroughly that the observer becomes a part of the observed – to merge, blend, intermarry, lose identity in group experience."
My coat? The one with "grumpy old man" on the back.... ;-)
Sieze it and scrap it
If it's a scrapheap, you'll at least get some metal out of it and it will be one less shadow ship that Putin can count on.
It's not like Malta is going to go to war.
Okay, nurse, I'll go take my dried frog pills . . .
You know, bad weather can sink bad ships
Especially if they are hit by a torpedo from a sub in bad weather. Just saying.