The investigation surrounding the damage to the EstLink 2 subsea cable connecting Estonia and Finland has taken center stage following significant outages reported on Christmas Day, December 25. Finnish authorities are probing the potential involvement of foreign vessels, particularly focusing on the tanker Eagle S, which was flagged under the Cook Islands at the time of the incident. Seen as significant, the anchor of this tanker is believed to have caused severe damage to the infrastructure, leading to suspicions of criminal activity.
The Finnish police confirmed they have initiated criminal inquiries linked to the damages not only on the EstLink 2 but also affecting three other communications cables. During the press conference held by the police, officials stated the investigation stems from severe vandalism. Initial evidence suggests the Eagle S may have dragged its anchor across the seafloor, leading to the substantial cable damage.
On December 25 at approximately 12:26 PM, the EstLink 2, which is responsible for transmitting electricity between Estonia and Finland, experienced technical failure. What caused the disconnection remains unclear, prompting swift action from the Estonian and Finnish system operators, Elering and Fingrid, who are now working aggressively to identify the fault.
The EstLink 2 comprises converter stations located in both Estonia and Finland, linked by over 170 kilometers of direct current cable, making it integral to the electricity exchange between the two nations. Of this, around 12 kilometers runs as land cable through Estonia, approximately 147 kilometers navigates under the seabed of the Gulf of Finland, and some 14 kilometers stands as overhead line on Finnish soil. The incident's timing raised eyebrows, as it coincided with the passage of the Eagle S near the cable's known location. Authorities are presently assessing the timeline of the vessel's movements through MarineTraffic—a service tracking global maritime traffic—and have noted other nearby vessels at the time, including the oil tanker Eagle S and patrol ship Turva belonging to the Finnish Border Guard.
Fingrid representatives indicated to the media the possibility of sabotage is being explored as part of the broader investigation. The Estonian Technical Regulatory Authority was notified of the outages affecting not merely the EstLink 2, but also three separate underwater communication cables belonging to Elisa Eesti AS and CITIC Telecom CPC, all of which are under review with efforts to repair underway. Early indications denote these disturbances may not pose significant impacts on end users, with all communication services operational, though they are deemed to be serious disruptions.
On December 27, at 4 PM, there is scheduled to be an emergency government session to address the incidents and strategy concerning the protection of underwater infrastructure. Subsequently, at the 6 PM press conference, key participants, including Prime Minister Kristen Michal, are expected to address the public about the situation. This session signals the urgency and seriousness with which the Estonian and Finnish governments regard the security of their energy and communication networks.
Measuring the economic impact, especially concerning energy costs, analysts predict variable outcomes from the EstLink 2 cable disruptions. During periods of high renewable energy generation, the disruption may yield negligible effects on market prices; conversely, low generation periods could mean heightened rates as dependence on fossil fuel-based electricity sources increases. Drawing from previous experiences, affected nations might see slightly elevated auction prices compared to Nordic regions.
This incident against the backdrop of regional energy security and telecommunications has underscored the importance of maintaining transparent cooperation between Estonia and Finland as they address both immediate repair priorities and longer-term infrastructural protections. Various government agencies are on high alert as the investigation progresses, and future updates will likely impact both local communications and international electricity trading practices.
So far, Finnish authorities have maintained communication with their Estonian counterparts, though official contacts with Russia have not been established following the incident, hinting at broader regional tensions as it relates to such cross-border issues.
