Finnish authorities have detained the general cargo vessel Fitburg, arrested two of its crewmembers, and seized its cargo as part of a widening investigation into suspected damage to undersea telecommunications cables in the Baltic Sea.
The vessel was intercepted on Wednesday, December 31, following reports from Finnish telecom operator Elisa that a subsea cable linking Finland and Estonia had been damaged. Swedish carrier Arelion subsequently reported a disruption to one of its own undersea telecom links in the same region.
According to the Finnish Border Guard, several vessels were initially assessed in connection with the incident. Investigators ultimately focused on the Fitburg after surveillance showed the ship travelling from Estonia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) into Finnish territorial waters with its anchor chain deployed — a condition authorities say raises concern in cable damage cases.
The 9,800-dwt vessel, managed by a Turkish operator and flying the flag of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, was ordered to halt operations, recover its anchor, and proceed to port for inspection. Finnish military personnel boarded the ship using fast-roping techniques before it was escorted, under court authorization, to the port of Kantvik, roughly 20 miles west of Helsinki.
Prosecutors have since secured judicial approval to detain the vessel on suspicion of aggravated criminal damage and attempted interference with telecommunications infrastructure.
Helsinki Police confirmed that two crewmembers have been taken into custody, while two additional crew are subject to travel restrictions. Authorities said the vessel carries a total of 14 crewmembers, comprising nationals of Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan. Investigators noted that the crew has been cooperative, with formal questioning beginning on January 1.
Upon the ship’s arrival in Kantvik, Finnish Customs boarded the vessel and formally seized its cargo pending further inspection. Customs officials said the cargo is being examined for possible breaches of European Union sanctions.
The Fitburg had departed Saint Petersburg carrying a shipment of structural steel — a product currently subject to EU sanctions when originating from Russia. Customs authorities stated that a legal assessment is ongoing and a determination regarding sanctions compliance is expected within the coming week.
In parallel, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency has launched a Port State Control inspection to assess the vessel’s compliance with international maritime safety and operational standards. Investigators are also examining the ship’s anchor and related equipment, while media reports indicate that police removed materials from the vessel during overnight searches.
A subsea forensic investigation has also been initiated. The Finnish Border Guard, police, and Defence Forces are working jointly on the probe and are coordinating closely with Estonian authorities, as the reported cable damage occurred within Estonia’s EEZ.
The case echoes a similar Baltic Sea incident from December 2024, when the tanker Eagle S was accused of damaging undersea cables after allegedly dragging its anchor during severe weather. Although Finnish prosecutors charged the vessel’s captain and two crewmembers with negligence in that case, a Helsinki court later ruled that Finland lacked jurisdiction, as the incident occurred outside its territorial waters. That ruling is currently under appeal.
