Norwegian Authorities Detain Russian Ship Over Undersea Cable Sabotage Suspicions

Norwegian authorities have detained a Russian-crewed cargo ship suspected in damaging an undersea cable, an incident that adds to escalating fears regarding sabotage in the Baltic Sea region.

In the latest chapter of rising tensions in the Baltic Sea, Norwegian authorities have seized a Russian-crewed vessel linked to the suspected sabotage of an undersea cable. The Norwegian police confirmed on Friday that they took action based on a request from Latvian authorities and a corresponding order from Norwegian courts. This incident follows recent damage to a cable facilitating communication and electricity distribution between Sweden and Latvia.

The Norwegian operation is part of an increasing vigilance surrounding undersea infrastructure as similar acts of sabotage have become more frequent. Notably, concerns spiked after a series of undersea blasts severely affected the Nord Stream gas pipelines connecting Russia to Western Europe back in 2022.

On Thursday, Norway's coast guard and police intercepted the cargo ship, named Silver Dania, as it was navigating between Russian ports. It was escorted to the Port of Tromso for further inspection. Officials have already boarded the vessel to gather evidence and interview the crew concerning their alleged involvement in the cable damage.

Tormod Fossmark, CEO of Silver Sea—the Norwegian company that owns the Silver Dania—maintained that there had been no misconduct. He emphasized their cooperation with authorities, stating they were complying with the request for a Norwegian port visit.

Simultaneously, tensions rose in Swedish waters where authorities boarded another ship believed to be implicated in an act of "gross sabotage" relating to the same undersea cable on the day prior. This vessel, operated by a Bulgarian firm, was flying under a Maltese flag during the incident.

Additionally, the Finnish authorities had previously raised alarms about a Russian oil tanker suspected of damaging a cable between Finland and Estonia. This raised suspicions about Russia’s "shadow fleet", comprised of ships purportedly attempting to bypass Western sanctions amidst the ongoing geopolitical crisis related to Ukraine.

As NATO increases its surveillance in the Baltic, leaders from affected countries continue to voice concerns over the potential implications of these incidents on regional security.