Yi Peng 3 passing under the Great Belt Bridge on November 19, 2024. (Source: Storebælt Bridge webcam)
COPENHAGEN, Nov 26 (Reuters) – Sweden is asking a Chinese vessel to return to Swedish waters to help facilitate the Nordic country’s investigation into recent breaches of undersea fiber-optic cables in the Baltic Sea, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Tuesday.
Two subsea cables, one linking Finland and Germany and the other connecting Sweden to Lithuania, were damaged in less than 24 hours on Nov. 17-18, raising suspicions of sabotage, countries and companies involved said.
Denmark’s military said soon afterwards that its vessels were staying close to Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3, which traveled through the Baltic Sea at the time and now sits idle in international waters but inside Denmark’s exclusive economic zone.
The breaches occurred in Sweden’s exclusive economic zone, leading Swedish prosecutors to launch a preliminary investigation.
“From the Swedish side we have had contact with the ship and contact with China and said that we want the ship to move towards Swedish waters,” Kristersson told a press conference.
The Chinese ship left the Russian port of Ust-Luga on Nov. 15 and was in the areas where the cable damage occurred, according to traffic data, which showed other ships had also been in the area.
“We’re not making any accusations but we seek clarity on what has happened,” Kristersson said.
“This is the second time in a relatively short period of time that there have been serious physical cable breaches,” he said.
Sweden was hopeful that China would respond positively to the request, Kristersson added.
China’s foreign ministry said on Monday that Beijing has maintained “smooth communication” with all parties involved.
Last year a subsea gas pipeline and several telecoms cables running along the bottom of the Baltic Sea were severely damaged, and Finnish police have said they believe the incident was caused by a Chinese ship dragging its anchor.
But the investigators have not said whether they believe the damage in 2023 was accidental or intentional.
(Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, writing by Stine Jacobsen, editing by Terje Solsvik and Philippa Fletcher)
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 110,100 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
The investigation surrounding Chinese bulker carrier Yi Peng 3 suspected of damaging two submarine cables in the Baltic Sea continues to expand.
Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 remains stopped in the Danish Straits with a Navy patrol ship in close proximity. The vessel is suspected of being involved in the damage...
A day after the C-Lion1 and BCS subsea data cables in the Baltic Sea, connecting Finland and Germany as well as Sweden and Lithuania, were damaged, specifics of the incident remain unconfirmed.
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
Sign Up
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 110,100 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
