European investigators believe that a Chinese commercial vessel deliberately extended its anchor to damage two undersea telecommunications cables that were cut in the Baltic Sea this month. However, Western law enforcement and intelligence agencies do not believe the Chinese government was involved in the operation. The investigation now focuses on whether Russian intelligence services could have convinced the ship’s captain to carry out the operation.
Last week, NATO warships from Denmark, Germany and Sweden surrounded the 225-meter-long Yi Peng 3. The Chinese owner of the vessel, Ningbo Yipeng Shipping, is cooperating with investigators. The owner has authorized the detention of the commercial vessel in international waters.
Swedish and German authorities are negotiating with the owner for access to the vessel and its crew. International maritime law prohibits NATO from forcibly bringing the vessel to one of its ports.
European investigators believe that the Yi Peng 3 was dragging its anchor for more than 100 miles (more than 160 km) on the bottom of the Baltic Sea from November 17 to 18. According to them, satellite and other images show that the vessel was moving much slower than usual as the anchor was lowered.
The ship cut two data cables: one connecting Lithuania to Sweden and the other between Finland and Germany. After the second cable was damaged, the vessel reportedly performed zigzagging maneuvers, raised its anchor and continued to move.
Officials said that the vessel’s transponder was off during the incident. Investigators reported that an inspection of the vessel’s anchor and hull revealed damage consistent with a scenario of anchor pulling and cable cutting.
«It is extremely unlikely that the captain of the ship would not have noticed his vessel lowering and dragging its anchor, slowing it down for several hours and damaging the cables,» the European investigator said.
An analytical company specializing in international maritime transportation has stated that the probability of accidental anchor tightening is «minimal».
The Yi Peng 3 operated exclusively in Chinese waters from December 2019 to early March 2024. After that, the vessel suddenly started transporting Russian coal and other goods, making stops in Russian ports. At the time the Danish Navy vessel was stopped, it was carrying Russian fertilizers.
In September, the United States issued a warning about the increased risk of Russian interference with undersea data cables.
Source: Engadget