Finland’s Border Guard is establishing a maritime surveillance center to safeguard critical undersea infrastructure in the Gulf of Finland. This initiative, driven by recent outages and heightened security concerns, aims to enhance monitoring of unusual vessel movements. Collaboration with Baltic nations and the EU will involve advanced sensors and AI for real-time analysis.
Finnish police have seized the cargo vessel “Fitburg,” suspected of sabotaging an undersea telecom cable between Helsinki and Estonia. The incident, occurring in the Gulf of Finland, raises alarms amid a series of similar disruptions. The crew has been detained, and NATO countries remain on high alert for potential threats.
On October 9, U.S. President Donald Trump and Finnish President Alexander Stubb finalized a pivotal agreement for the U.S. Coast Guard to acquire up to 11 new icebreakers, enhancing Arctic national security. This $6.1 billion initiative aims to deliver the first vessel by 2028, creating jobs and boosting the maritime industry.
Elena, the wife of imprisoned seafarer Ali Albokhari, is fervently seeking justice as her husband endures a 30-year sentence in Turkey for drug charges linked to a seized ship. She claims the verdict lacked proper evidence, highlighting her husband’s despair and advocating for broader awareness of seafarer criminalization.
Finland’s National Public Prosecutor has charged the captain and two officers of the EagleS oil tanker for damaging underwater cables in the Gulf of Finland. The crew, predominantly Georgian and Indian nationals, is accused of causing a severe criminal disaster by dragging the ship’s anchor, severing vital communication lines.
Finland’s finance minister’s draft budget proposes cutting maritime crew subsidies, potentially saving €36 million. This raises job security concerns for Finnish maritime workers, with Tallink Group warning of layoffs. Shipping is crucial for Finland’s economy, as 60% of foreign trade relies on maritime transport, threatening thousands of jobs without state support.
Starting today, Finland has enacted a pioneering law banning cargo ships from discharging toilet wastewater, sulphuric wash water, and scrubber sludge into its coastal waters. This legislation, approved in December 2024, positions Finland as the first country to impose such comprehensive restrictions, aiming to protect the Baltic Sea from pollution.
Finnish authorities have released the product tanker, Eagle S, after being detained for 53 days due to damage to undersea transmission cables. Three crew members are still held for investigation. The vessel was escorted out of Finnish waters to Port Said, Egypt. Authorities have rectified deficiencies on board and suggested sabotage as the cause.
After a NATO summit in Helsinki, Finnish President Alexander Stubb revealed that the tanker Eagle S nearly caused more damage to subsea infrastructure before Finland intervened. Suspected of breaking cables connecting Finland and Estonia, the vessel was intercepted by Finnish forces. Concerns arise over deliberate actions targeting vital connections in the Baltic Sea region.
Fingrid, Finland’s national power grid operator, has taken legal action to seize the Eagle S oil tanker due to damages to the undersea Estlink 2 electricity interconnector. The incident, suspected to be caused by the tanker dragging its anchor, has raised concerns in the Baltic Sea region. NATO plans to increase presence in the area.
Seven crewmembers of the tanker Eagle S have been banned from leaving Finland after allegedly damaging subsea infrastructure in the Baltic last week. The travel ban allows suspects to continue working aboard the ship during the ongoing investigation. Finnish authorities detained the vessel in connection with a subsea cable damage incident on Christmas Day.
Finnish authorities have found tracks on the Baltic Sea seabed, possibly caused by a Russian oil tanker damaging power and telecom cables. The tanker, Eagle S, is under investigation with its crew being questioned. Concerns have risen among Baltic nations, leading NATO to increase its presence due to tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Finnish authorities seized control of the oil tanker Eagle S, suspected of damaging an undersea power cable connecting Finland and Estonia. The vessel, registered in the Cook Islands, was boarded in the Baltic Sea. The incident is being investigated as grave sabotage, with the cargo linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) uses arrests, controlled ship destruction, and equipment removal as a deterrent in Australian waters. Citizens can report suspicious activities to Border Watch online to maintain national security. Reporting illegal fishing to CRIMFISH or Intelligence@afma.gov.au helps protect marine ecosystems. Collaboration with authorities ensures the safety of Australia’s waters.
A Finnish consortium, consisting of research organizations and companies, has launched the Flext-CPT project to create fuel-flexible solutions for maritime transport and off-road machinery. With a budget of €18 million, the project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 100% by developing innovative powertrain technologies.
