(Photo by JOHAN NILSSON/TT/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images)
Sweden is investigating a cargo ship for deliberately damaging an undersea fiber optic cable in the Baltic Sea. “A vessel suspected of carrying out the sabotage has been seized,” Sweden’s Public Prosecutor’s Office announced on Sunday.
The fiber optic cable ferried data between Sweden and Latvia. But on Sunday morning, the cable's owner detected disruptions in the data transmissions, which prompted officials in both countries to investigate.
“Currently, there may be delays in data transmission speeds, but for the most part, this does not impact end users in Latvia,” said state-owned company Latvia State Radio and Television Center, which also owns the cable. “Based on current findings, it is presumed that the cable is significantly damaged due to external factors. LVRTC has initiated criminal procedural actions.”
Swedish officials didn’t name which ship they seized. But evidence is mounting that investigators detained a vessel known as the Vezhen, according to Reuters, citing how the ship passed over the affected undersea cable. The Vezhen flies a Maltese flag and is owned by a Bulgarian shipping company called ??Navigation Maritime Bulgare.
The incident occurs when Europe has become increasingly concerned about ships conducting sabotage of undersea fiber cables. In November, a Chinese ship called the Yi Peng 3, was identified as another vessel that may have deliberately dragged its anchor to damage another cable running along the Baltic Sea. A month later, European investigators were eventually allowed to board the Yi Peng 3.
“Two European intelligence officials said that they suspected the captain or other officers on the ship could have been bribed by Russian agents,” The Wall Street Journal reported at the time. “The Chinese government most likely wasn’t involved in the incident, according to investigators, intelligence officials and diplomats.”
Still, the Chinese government has been suspected of trying to sabotage underwater fiber cables to Taiwan. Earlier this month, a Hong Kong-owned cargo ship was discovered near a site, where an undersea cable was damaged. In response, Taiwan has reportedly created a list of 52 Chinese-owned ships it’ll track and inspect if they approach the island’s waters.
In the meantime, the company Latvia State Radio and Television Center says its already in discussion with a foreign company to fix the damaged undersea cable in the Baltic Sea. “Given that the cable lies at a depth exceeding 50 meters, the exact nature of the damage can only be determined once cable repair work begins,” it added.