Norwegian authorities have seized a cargo ship with an all-Russian crew suspected of being involved in the damage to an undersea telecom cable in the Baltic Sea. The Silver Dania, sailing between Russian ports of St. Petersburg and Murmansk, was detained on Thursday evening and escorted to the port of Tromsø by a Norwegian coast guard vessel. This action follows a request from Latvian authorities and a ruling by a Norwegian court, as investigations into potential sabotage escalate.
The ship’s seizure comes after damage was discovered on Sunday to the cable that connects Latvia with Sweden’s Gotland island. Swedish prosecutors swiftly opened a preliminary investigation into the possibility of sabotage. The ship’s Bulgarian owner, the Malta-flagged Vezhen, which was also under investigation, suggested that any damage could have been accidental, rejecting claims of intentional wrongdoing.
This latest incident is part of a worrying series of similar cable ruptures in the Baltic region, heightening fears of Russian interference. In recent months, cables linking Lithuania with Sweden, Germany with Finland, and Estonia with Finland have all been damaged under suspicious circumstances, raising concerns of potential espionage or sabotage tied to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of sanctioned, aging tankers.
In response to these threats, NATO has launched a new mission focused on safeguarding critical undersea cables. The alliance has deployed frigates, naval drones, and patrol aircraft to monitor the region, with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte underscoring the commitment to protecting these vital infrastructure assets: “We will do everything in our power to ensure such attacks are thwarted and prevented in the future.”
The seizure of the Silver Dania marks a significant step in the ongoing investigation, underscoring the growing importance of securing communication links in the Baltic amid increasing geopolitical tensions.
