The Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) have announced that they will extend executive support to the Finnish police regarding the investigation of cable damage in the Gulf of Finland.
The FDF stated that this assistance will involve the utilization of naval resources, including the mine countermeasure vessel MHC Vahterpää, the auxiliary vessel Hylje, along with additional vessels, divers and support personnel. Furthermore, they will contribute to the compilation of the established maritime picture and the analysis of pertinent data.
The Finnish authorities have also received assistance from the Swedish Navy’s submarine rescue ship HMS Belos, which is equipped to aid in underwater operations, among other functions.
“Working underwater is always demanding, but in the current situation, diving tasks are prepared to be carried out at quite a deep if necessary, which requires special attention to preparation, safety and the work itself. HMS Belos brings additional skills, equipment and experience to the mission. The FISE cooperation and years of joint training are now taking concrete shape”, says Commander Tuomas Runola, commanding officer of the Finnish Navy deep diving and salvage detachment.
The operation is being led by the Helsinki Police Department, with the Border Guard playing a supportive role in its execution. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is responsible for overseeing the criminal investigation. The underwater scene examination is being conducted by the Border Guard patrol vessel Turva, operating under the guidance of the NBI.
On 25 December, the EstLink 2 underwater electricity cable between Finland and Estonia was damaged in a suspected act of sabotage. Finnish authorities secured an oil tanker sailing under a Cook Islands flag, which it believes to be part of a Russian ‘shadow fleet’ transporting embargoed hydrocarbons. Helsinki suspects the ship, the Eagle S, of being involved in the damaging of the cable.
The damage to the cable, is among several recent occurrences in the Baltic Sea that are being examined for potential sabotage. In response to this incident, NATO allies have expressed their unwavering support for Estonia and Finland. To ensure heightened vigilance, improve situational awareness, and prevent future incidents, NATO is augmenting its military presence in the Baltic Sea region.
Additionally, allies are exploring further actions to mitigate potential threats to vital undersea infrastructure, including collaboration with NATO’s Maritime Centre for Security of Critical Undersea Infrastructure, which was established in May of this year.
In July, a project funded by NATO’s Science for Peace and Security programme (SPS) was launched with the aim of making the internet less vulnerable to disruption by rerouting the flow of information into space if undersea cables are attacked or accidentally severed.
