Eagle S tanker freed, travel ban on 5 staff out of 8 withdrawn

Finnish authorities released the Eagle S, a tanker, which was detained in December last year for its involvement in the rupture of the Estlink 2 submarine power transmission cable in Gulf of Finland between Finland and Estonia, said police in a press release on Sunday.

The authorities also withdrew travel ban on five staff members while the travel ban on three staff members continued.

As the criminal investigation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), including the forensic investigation on board Eagle S, has progressed, there are no longer grounds for continuing the seizure of the tanker, said police.

Therefore, the authority cancelled the seizure on Friday.

The coercive measures taken on the tanker's crew are considered separately.

Those subjected to a travel ban may not leave the country. Their representatives in their home countries have been kept up to date.

“Swift initial action ensured that criminal investigative measures could be immediately started and carried out. In such incidents, a criminal investigation is a good way to establish what actually happened,” said Director of NBI Robin Lardot.

The criminal investigation continues with further interviews of the crew and the examination of the material gathered.

The suspected offences under investigation are an aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with communications.

The investigation is expected to be completed by the end of April.

Earlier in January, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom found 32 deficiencies in the Eagle S.

On January 6, anchor of the Eagle S has been recovered from the Gulf of Finland.

On December 31, 2024, seven staff members of tanker Eagle S whose status in the criminal investigation is that of a suspect have been subjected to a travel ban.

Police on December 28, transferred the Eagle S tanker, the suspect of Estlink 2 submarine cable damage from the Gulf of Finland to the Svartbeck inner anchorage near Porvoo.

Finnish authorities suspected the Eagle S, a tanker registered in the Cook Islands for its involvement in the rupture of the Estlink 2 submarine power transmission cable between Finland and Estonia on December 25.

The electricity transmission cable has been cut in the sea area in Finland's exclusive economic zone in the Gulf of Finland, about 55 km south of Loviisa.