Baltic grid operators won't enforce tanker seizure

Staff Writers
Reuters
Finland's coast guard stopped the Cook Islands-registered oil tanker Eagle S last December. (AP PHOTO)
Finland's coast guard stopped the Cook Islands-registered oil tanker Eagle S last December. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AAP

Finnish power grid operator Fingrid has agreed with Estonian partner Elering that the two companies will waive their right to enforce a seizure of an oil tanker, which Finland says broke a Baltic Sea power cable in December.

The Cook Islands-registered Eagle S was boarded by Finland’s coast guard on December 26 and still sits in a Finnish bay while investigators probe the case involving the breach of the Estlink 2 power cable and four fibre-optic internet lines.

But the cost of taking over and maintaining the Eagle S would likely be higher than the vessel’s value, and the system operators will instead seek compensation by suing in court for damages, Fingrid said in a statement on Sunday.

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“At this stage, Fingrid and Elering will pay the repair costs to make the (Estlink 2) interconnector available as quickly as possible,” the company said.

The Baltic Sea region is on high alert after a string of power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and the NATO military alliance has boosted its presence with frigates, aircraft and naval drones.

Originally published on Reuters

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