Estlink 2: Submarine cable disrupted – police are checking external influences

After a submarine cable between Finland and Estonia failed, Finnish police are investigating whether a ship could be responsible for the disruption. The police announced this on Thursday. “Police, in collaboration with the Coast Guard and other authorities, are investigating the chain of events surrounding the incident.” The police initially did not provide any further information about the ship. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon and led to the failure of the 658 megawatt “Estlink 2” power connection.

The countries bordering the Baltic Sea are on heightened alert for possible acts of sabotage against critical infrastructure after several power cables, telecommunications connections and gas pipelines have failed since 2022. The Swedish police are currently investigating two severed telecommunications cables in the Baltic Sea. In 2022, three of the four Nord Stream pipelines that deliver Russian natural gas to Germany were destroyed by explosions at a depth of around 80 meters. According to investigations, it was sabotage.

However, with submarine cables, accidents, for example with ship anchors, can also lead to technical problems. Finnish police are also currently investigating the damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia as well as several telecommunications cables last year. In these cases, however, the police assume that a ship with its anchor could have caused the damage.