The Chinese-flagged ship “Newnew Polar Bear” is said to have damaged the oil pipeline between Estonia and Finland with its anchor. There would be a drag trail leading to the damage site.
Following damage to the Balticconnector oil pipeline in the Baltic Sea, investigators assume the damage was caused by a large anchor from a Chinese container ship. A five- to four-meter-wide drag trail can be seen on the seabed, which leads to the site of the gas pipeline damage, Risto Lohi, of the Finnish criminal police investigating, said at a news conference on Tuesday.
An anchor was found a few meters away, which likely caused the wake and damage. The Hong Kong-flagged ship Newnew Polar Bear is believed to have caused the damage.
Anchor shows suspicious marks
According to Lohi, the anchor was recovered on Tuesday morning. Therefore, it presents traces that indicate that it had contact with the gas pipeline.
The Balticconnector pipeline connects Inkoo in Finland and Paldiski in Estonia across the Gulf of Finland in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea. She was damaged on October 8th. Finnish President Sauli Niinistö announced two days later that damage to the line and a data cable between Finland and Estonia was likely caused by “external activity”. It remains unclear whether this was an accident or deliberate sabotage.
Finnish criminal police had already announced on Friday that they would focus on the role of the “New Polar Bear” in investigating the incident. The ship belongs to a Chinese shipping company. (APA)