60 Minutes probe: 'Eagle S' dragging anchor severed Baltic undersea cables; NATO launches 'Baltic Sentry'
60 Minutes reports that on Dec. 25, 2024 the tanker Eagle S dragged its anchor for about 66 miles and severed the Estlink‑2 undersea power cable roughly 50 miles off Finland, prompting Finnish special forces—authorized by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo—to board by helicopter and detain about two dozen crew. Investigators recovered a continuous seabed drag mark and battered anchor, linked the episode to a pattern including the Newnew Polar Bear’s October 2023 damage to telecom cables and the Balticconnector pipeline, traced fleet financing to a $35 million lease and opaque shell companies tied to sanctioned Russian oil interests, and said NATO has launched "Baltic Sentry" to monitor the shadow fleet amid at least 11 Baltic cable/pipeline breaches over two years.
📰 Sources (2)
- On Dec. 25, 2024 the Estlink‑2 undersea electric cable was severely damaged about 50 miles off Finland after the Eagle S allegedly dragged anchor for some 66 miles.
- Finnish special forces boarded Eagle S by helicopter; roughly two dozen crew members (reported nationalities include Georgia and India) were taken into custody during the seizure authorized by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.
- Finnish investigators say the Newnew Polar Bear (Oct. 2023) dragged anchor and damaged two telecom cables and the Balticconnector gas pipeline; investigators and 60 Minutes trace fleet financing to a $35 million lease and opaque shell‑company ownership tied to sanctioned Russian oil interests.
- 60 Minutes investigative reporting documents that Finnish special forces boarded and seized the tanker Eagle S after it dragged its anchor and severed the Estlink‑2 cable on Dec. 25, 2024.
- Investigators found a continuous seabed drag mark and recovered a battered anchor; Finnish officials say the anchor was dragged roughly 66 miles and the damaged Estlink‑2 lay about 50 miles off Finland's coast.
- The article ties the incident to a broader pattern: Finnish police report at least 11 cable/pipeline breaches in the Baltic over two years and NATO has launched an operation called 'Baltic Sentry' to monitor the shadow fleet.
- Direct quotes from Finnish officials (PM Petteri Orpo, Helsinki Police Chief Jari Liukku, investigator Risto Lohi) and NATO Adm. Keith Blount describing the event as a provocation.