The Estonian navy is ready to take action against vessels that threaten Baltic Sea infrastructure, even if they are in international waters, according to a senior official overseeing the Gulf of Finland shipping lane. Numerous incidents, including power cable and gas pipeline disruptions, have occurred in the region since Russia's invasion in 2022, mostly attributed to civilian ships inadvertently dragging their anchors.
While some breaches have been deemed accidental, others remain under investigation without any suspects facing trial so far. During a recent patrol in challenging weather conditions, the mine hunter Sakala inspected a barge flying a Cypriot flag with a Russian name, using a camera to examine its anchors from a safe distance.
Fortunately, no issues were identified on this occasion, and the naval patrol continued monitoring the area, through which 500-600 vessels transit weekly, many bound for or coming from Russian ports. Estonian navy Deputy Commander Johan-Elias Seljamaa emphasized the necessity of intervention if a vessel jeopardizes critical infrastructure, even within international waters, but refrained from revealing specific operational tactics.
The patrols were initiated after Finland's seizure of an oil tanker in December, suspected of damaging the Estlink 2 power cable by dragging its anchor along the seabed, resulting in the disconnection of one of the electricity lines linking Finland and Estonia. To prevent future incidents, Estonia has stationed three vessels near the remaining Estlink 1 cable in the Gulf of Finland, an extension of the Baltic Sea that reaches into Russian waters. Despite accusations, Moscow has denied any involvement in the cable disruptions.