Finnish investigation report recommends charges for Eagle S over cable damage

The Eagle S tanker, suspected of cutting undersea cables, is seen on 30 December 2024 anchored off Finland's Kilpilahti oil terminal with a 24-hour escort provided by the Finnish Border Guard vessel Uisko . (John Pagni)

Finland's National Bureau of Investigation has finally reported its conclusions into the 25 December 2024 incident when the Cook Island-flagged tanker Eagle S dragged its anchor for 100 km, damaging four telecom and one power cable between Finland and Estonia.

According to the investigation's findings, the suspects are the captain, chief mate, and second mate, who were responsible for the vessel's safe passage, navigation, and operation.

“Based on the criminal investigation, they are suspected of aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with telecommunications,” said head of Investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Sami Liimatainen.

All three are under a travel ban and were unable to leave Finland with the ship on 2 March after it was released from arrest. The ship's crew was made up of Georgian and Indian citizens. The captain, Davit Vadatchkoria, has given an interview to Finnish state broadcaster YLE, but the identities of the other two are unknown.

Initially, nine of the crew were forbidden to leave the country, but the number was reduced as investigations proceeded with the crew co-operating, police said. The ship also had to be upgraded to meet standards after it failed an inspection. Eagle S is suspected of being part of Russia's shadow fleet of oil transporters to evade sanctions.

Other red flags that raised suspicions were the 74,000 grt ship's anchor recovered at the end of the 100 km rut on the sea floor, with the 2006-built Eagle S