Headline: "Eagle S" Tanker Banned from Sea Due to Safety Concerns Following Suspicion in Baltic Cable Sabotage
Article:
In a significant development following suspicions surrounding its involvement in the sabotage of electricity and communication cables connecting Estonia and Finland, the Russian-flagged oil tanker "Eagle S" has been barred from sailing due to unsatisfactory technical conditions. This move comes after an inspection conducted by Finnish authorities.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) announced it had identified 32 defects during its assessment, three of which were deemed so serious that the vessel has been forbidden from setting sail. The critical defects pertain to the tanker’s fire safety, navigation equipment, and ventilation in the pump room.
"Addressing these issues will require external assistance for repairs, which will take time," stated Sanna Sonninena, the General Director of Traficom’s Maritime Division.
Traficom inspectors evaluated the ship’s technical condition, adherence to environmental regulations, documentation, and crew working conditions.
Last year, a similar inspection in Ghana uncovered 24 critical defects, including issues with technical compliance, equipment, fire safety systems, and emergency electrical power supplies.
The "Eagle S," flying the flag of the disputed Cook Islands, is suspected of being part of Russia’s so-called "dirty fleet" used to circumvent sanctions. It is under scrutiny for its alleged participation in the New Year’s Eve sabotage of the "EstLink 2" power cable and four communication cables.
The tanker was detained and towed to the port of Kilpilahti, around 40 kilometers east of Helsinki, where investigators examined the vessel and interviewed around 20 crew members. Eight sailors are reportedly prohibited from leaving Finland amidst suspicions of their involvement in the sabotage.
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