Evidence emerges linking Chinese ship to cable damage in Baltic Sea
28.11.2024 - 11:59
Chinese bulk carrier “Yi Peng 3” suspected of damaging underwater cables in the Baltic Sea due to twisted anchor.
On Saturday, November 17, the Chinese bulk carrier “Yi Peng 3”, which departed from St. Petersburg, was suspected of deliberately damaging submarine cables in the Baltic Sea. This is reported by Maritime Executive.
According to Danish public radio DR, the vessel showed an unusual change in course and speed while maneuvering near the scene of the incident.
According to tracking data, the “Yi Peng 3” was in the area of the damaged cables at the time of the accident. After that, the bulk carrier headed towards the Great Belt, but soon changed course and anchored in the Kattegat Strait.
Danish patrol ships monitored the vessel, but did not report its detention. Along with them, ships from Germany and Sweden participated in the observation of the “Yi Peng 3”.
One of the police inspectors, Per Engstrom, noted that the available evidence was not strong enough to detain the vessel. However, experts drew attention to the damaged port anchor of the ship, photos of which were obtained by DR. The pictures show that the anchor is significantly twisted, which may indicate that it is stuck on the seabed.
Last year, another Chinese vessel, the Polar Bear, also came under suspicion due to damage to an underwater cable. Despite the lack of clear evidence, indirect evidence forced investigators to consider the scenario of intentional damage to underwater infrastructure.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that “it is hardly possible to believe that the cable damage was accidental.” He noted that this could be a “hybrid operation or even sabotage,” although the specific culprit has not yet been identified.
The governments of the Baltic states also suggest that the incident with the “Yi Peng 3” could be part of a planned action.
Recently, USM wrote that a Russian ship anchored near a vessel that could have damaged cables in the Baltic Sea.
