MADRID 8 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) has ordered the blockade of the freighter ‘Eagle S.’, suspected of causing damage to the EastLink2 telecommunications cables crossing the Baltic Sea, after detecting “serious deficiencies” during an inspection.
Specifically, the agency has located 32 deficiencies, of which “three are so serious that they have led to the detention of the ship,” according to a statement from the institution that points to fire safety, the navigation system and the ventilation of the engine room.
The general director of the Maritime Sector at Traficom, Sanna Sonninen, explained that the cargo ship, flying the Cook Islands flag, will not be able to depart from the port of Porvoo until the deficiencies are corrected. Rectifying them will require outside help and, according to Sonninen, “will take time.”
“Before the ship can continue its journey, Traficom must review that the deficiencies that led to its detention are rectified or that the flag State has developed a rectification plan to fix them,” explained this official.
The damage to the EstLink2 infrastructure has revived fears about security in a strategic area and the authorities are keeping an investigation open to determine if it was indeed sabotage. Finnish researchers suspect that the ‘Eagle S.’ he dropped anchor deliberately.
In addition, the authorities have warned that the ship could be part of Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet’, with which Moscow evades international sanctions.