Swedish Coast Guard Intercepts Bulgarian Ship Amid Undersea Cable Damage Investigation
The Swedish coast guard has intercepted a Bulgarian cargo ship following damage to a fibre optic cable that runs under the Baltic Sea, connecting Sweden and Latvia. This decision comes after Latvia dispatched a warship to investigate the matter, while Swedish prosecutors have initiated an aggravated sabotage investigation.
Recent months have seen heightened concern among Baltic nations regarding the security of undersea cables, with many looking towards Russia as the potential perpetrator behind suspected sabotage incidents.
The Bulgarian vessel, identified as the Vezhen, was pursued by the Swedish coast guard on Sunday, leading it into Swedish territorial waters where it currently remains anchored for investigation. Alexander Kalchev, CEO of Navigation Maritime Bulgare (Navibulgar), the ship's owner, firmly denied any involvement in malicious acts, asserting, 'I am convinced that we cannot say that this was a malicious act.'
Kalchev described the circumstances leading up to the incident, indicating that the Malta-flagged ship had been carrying fertilizer from the port of Ust-Luga in Russia destined for South America, while navigating through exceedingly poor weather conditions. He explained that an inspection revealed one of the ship's anchors was damaged, which possibly caused it to drag along the sea floor before being pulled back up.
In light of the ongoing investigation, Navibulgar, Bulgaria’s largest shipping company, appointed an agent in Sweden and retained legal representation to safeguard the interests of both the crew and the company.
The Vezhen, constructed in 2022, has a crew comprised of eight Bulgarians and nine Myanmar nationals. Authorities from Sweden have been aboard the ship since the evening following the incident to conduct a thorough investigation.
The damaged cable, situated in Swedish territorial waters at a depth of approximately 50 meters (about 164 feet), is owned by Latvia's state radio and television center, LVRTC. They reported having experienced disruptions to their data transmission services, although they assured that alternative solutions were being implemented to mitigate the impact on end-users, who might experience some delays in data transmission speeds.
In response to the incident, the Latvian navy confirmed they had identified the Michalis San, another vessel operating near the affected area, alongside two additional ships. Prime Minister Evika Silina announced that Latvia had informed Swedish authorities and emphasized that both countries were collaborating on addressing the incident.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also reported on collaborative efforts with Silina, reiterating that Sweden, Latvia, and NATO are working together tightly on the matter. As the tensions escalate over ongoing conflicts involving Russia, experts and political analysts have raised concerns about Russia's potential role in what they describe as orchestrating a hybrid war against Western nations.
In a bid to enhance security measures in the region, NATO recently declared the launch of a new monitoring mission in the Baltic Sea, which will include both ships and aircraft to deter potential targeting of undersea infrastructure. EU President Ursula von der Leyen has expressed full solidarity with the nations affected by the incident, declaring that the resilience and security of critical infrastructure is a paramount priority.
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