Far out in the cold northern waters of the Norwegian Sea, a tiny village named Hovden clings to the rocky coastline. Typically serene and known for its precious marine life, it has recently become the center of a puzzling disappearance—an underwater cable that vanished without a trace. The incident spurred an investigation drawing the attention of not just scientists but defense experts as well.
Norway, historically bound to the sea, has seen its fortunes rise with the discovery of significant petroleum and natural gas deposits beneath its ocean floors. This bounty turned it into a modern petrostate, funding enterprises like the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR), headquartered in Bergen. Here, scientists and engineers like Guosong Zhāng, an acoustic engineer, are dedicated to studying marine life and the environmental impacts of human activities on the sea.
Zhāng, a scientist with roots in both Norway and China, manages the Lofoten-Vesterålen Ocean Observatory (LoVe), a significant marine surveillance project involving a 31-mile underwater cable equipped with powerful microphones. This observatory, besides its scientific purposes, also doubles as a surveillance tool for Norway's military, keeping a vigilant ear on activities in these contentious waters, including Russian maneuvers.
In April 2021, after returning from Easter break, Zhāng noticed that data from the LoVe observatory had abruptly ceased. Power outages were not uncommon, so initial attempts to reboot the system were carried out without much concern. However, the silence from the depths persisted. When routine checks by technicians failed, it became evident the issue lay offshore. A more targeted approach identified the problem area around 17 miles from the shore, near one of the cable's relay points. By September, five months later, a submersible equipped research mission, funded by Norway’s state-owned petroleum company Equinor, revealed a startling discovery: a 12-ton section of the cable was missing, seemingly torn out deliberately.
Geir Pedersen, manager of the LoVe observatory, emphasizes the noisy reality of the ocean, contrary to its perceived tranquility. The hydrophones along the cable's length pick up a symphony of natural and human-made sounds, from whale songs to ship propellers, all contributing valuable data. This information not only aids scientific understanding but also national security, considering the unique acoustic fingerprints each ship leaves behind.
Underwater cables, generally protected with robust materials to minimize breakage, are vital for global communications yet remain vulnerable. Incorrectly dropped anchors and deep-sea trawling have caused damage in the past, but this incident bore the hallmarks of an intentional act. Historical instances, like the US's secret tapping of a Soviet cable in the 1970s or recent disruptions along NATO's periphery, underscore the geopolitical stakes.
Following the discovery, Zhāng requested Automatic Identification System (AIS) data from the Norwegian Coastal Administration to trace ship movements over the cable's path at the incident time. The AIS revealed around a dozen ships, but one, the Russian trawler Sæmi, stood out due to its peculiar navigational pattern—crossing the cable four times. Subsequent underwater drones found the missing cable 6 miles from its original location, confirming deliberate relocation.
Norwegian police took over the investigation, and despite reluctant testimonies from the Sæmi's Russian crew, the clean cut on the cable indicated the use of a power saw, pointing to sabotage. Further complicating matters, a similar incident occurred in January 2022 when another cable servicing the Svalbard Satellite Station was damaged. Investigation suggested the involvement of another Russian vessel, the Melkært-5, which had passed over the cable's path multiple times.
Professor Katarzyna Zysk of the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies interpreted the synchrony of these incidents as indicative of Russia’s covert operations—a strategic undermining of Norway’s critical underwater infrastructure. These incidents serve as reminders of the ongoing silent tussle beneath the waves, with Russia sending subtle yet clear messages about the vulnerabilities of vulnerable remote assets.
Ultimately, despite thorough investigations pointing towards intentional damage by Russian-flagged trawlers, the cases remain officially unsolved due to lack of conclusive evidence and jurisdictional complexities. The IMR has moved forward with the intention of replacing the cable with new, more secure wireless systems, marking a significant, if cumbersome, shift in strategy.
As Russia continues its provocations under the guise of civilian activities, the mysteries of Norway’s underwater cables highlight the fragile yet crucial nature of hidden marine infrastructure in geopolitical strategy. “The people that cut this cable wanted this cable to be cut,” reflects the pragmatic assessment of the Troms Police District, leaving an open-ended question on the depths these underwater skirmishes could eventually reach.
