Norwegian police have taken significant action, seizing the Russian-crewed ship, the Silver Dania, over suspicions of its involvement in causing serious damage to a fiber cable running under the Baltic Sea between Latvia and Sweden. This operation, coordinated with the authorities from Latvia, unfolded late Thursday, culminating in the ship's arrival at Tromso port Friday morning.
According to the Troms Police, "There is suspicion the ship has been involved in serious damage to a fiber cable in the Baltic Sea between Latvia and Sweden. The police are conducting an operation on the ship to search, conduct interviews, and secure evidence." The Silver Dania, which is registered and owned by Norwegian interests, has its crew comprised of Russian nationals. It was sailing between St. Petersburg and Murmansk when the incident occurred.
Tormod Fossmark, CEO of Silver Sea, the shipping group behind the vessel, denied any involvement with the cable damage, stating, "The investigation has been going on today and we have had good cooperation with the authorities." Despite the initial suspicions, authorities had found no direct evidence linking the ship to the incident, allowing the crew to prepare for departure.
The recent seizure marks the second incident of this nature within days. Earlier, Swedish authorities confirmed they had boarded another ship after noting similar disruptions to the communications cable connecting Sweden and Latvia. Latvian officials had pointed to external forces being responsible for the cable damage, adding to existing concerns about maritime security following the increased frequency of similar occurrences since late 2022.
This incident is not isolated; Europe has witnessed multiple underwater infrastructure attacks, prompting heightened scrutiny and investigations by various nations, including Latvia and Sweden. The rising tension surrounding these events has led to speculations pointing fingers at Moscow, as both NATO and European officials express grave concerns over security along these undersea cables and pipelines.
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Selina noted the urgency of these issues, emphasizing her country's collaboration with Sweden and NATO to address the mounting threats to their infrastructure. The damaged cable, belonging to Latvia's state broadcaster, LVRTC, has already resulted in significant disruptions, though officials assured the public would not be severely affected.
Earlier this month, NATO initiated its "Baltic Sentry" mission aimed at bolstering patrols amid fears of sabotage amid these shifting maritime threats. Chief Mark Rutte articulated the alliance's intent to increase its monitoring capabilities concerning Russia's so-called "shadow fleet," which involves vessels operating without clear ownership and suspected of carrying embargoed materials.
It is clear this disastrous turn of events has led NATO to respond more assertively to any suspicious conduct at sea. Actions could include boarding suspect vessels or, if necessary, seizing them to mitigate the risk posed to Europe’s underwater infrastructure.
The latest events come on the heels of Finland's police investigation concerning allegations of Russian vessels being involved in the damaging of electrical cables connecting it to Estonia, illustrating a broader trend of encroaching threats to national security throughout the region.
Following the release of Silver Dania after it was established there were no links to the cable damage, Norwegian police stated, "The investigation will continue, but we see no reason for the ship to remain in Tromsoe any longer." This declaration was made after significant deliberation over the ship's role.
The risks associated with undersea cables and the potential threats they face from both natural and human actions highlight the importance of maintaining vigilant surveillance over maritime activities. With Russia's aggressive posturing following its invasion of Ukraine and the accompanying geopolitical strains, the consequences of such provocations could not be understated.
The situation remains fluid as investigations progress and various nations rally to defend their interests. With NATO increasing its naval presence alongside calls for heightened awareness, the European response to threats against its maritime infrastructure has never been more pressing.