Charges filed over Gulf of Finland cable damage

The Finnish Prosecution Service has announced that charges have been brought against the captain of 2006-built, 74,000-dwt LR1 product tanker Eagle S in relation to alleged damage to submarine cables in the Gulf of Finland during Christmas 2024.

In its statement, the Prosecution Service confirmed the charges concern “gross damage to property” and “a violation of the Maritime Act.”

The case will be heard in the Länsi-Uusimaa District Court, although no date has yet been set for the proceedings. The Prosecution Service said no further details would be released before the trial.

The development follows an earlier investigation led by the Finnish Border Guard into the circumstances surrounding damage to two undersea telecommunications cables in the Gulf of Finland.

In January 2025, Finnish authorities boarded and inspected Eagle S, registered in the Cook Islands, after it was suspected of being involved in the incident.

According to the Finnish Border Guard at the time, the inspection was carried out in co-operation with other Finnish authorities, and materials were seized for technical examination.

Investigators said the suspected damage had occurred while the vessel was operating in the area where the cables were later found to be severed.

Eagle S was anchored off the Finnish coast during the inspection, while the Finnish Border Guard vessel VL Uisko maintained a presence nearby.

Authorities have not released any further operational details from the investigation.