Finnish Court Denies Jurisdiction in Damage Case Against Eagle S Tanker Crew, But Dismisses Lawsuit
The Finnish District Court ruled that it lacks jurisdiction to prosecute the captain and two officers of the tanker Eagle S in connection with damages caused to critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea last year.
The incident involved the vessel dragging its anchor across the seabed, damaging the Estlink 2 energy cable and four internet lines, as confirmed by prosecutors.
The event was among the first attempts to hold individuals accountable for damaging vital underwater infrastructure, though complexities of international maritime law and proof of intent made prosecution difficult.
The crew members deny all charges.
A court statement clarified that Finnish criminal law cannot be applied to this case, since the vessel, flying the flag of the Cook Islands, was not subject to Finnish jurisdiction.
The decision is subject to appeal.
Authorities argued that the vessel, transporting Russian oil, inadvertently dragged its 11,000 kg anchor along 90 km of the Finnish Gulf seabed, resulting in the cable and communications line damages.
The Finnish government accused Georgian and Indian officers and the Georgian captain of serious crimes and interference in telecommunications.
The charges stemmed mainly from negligence regarding the ship’s mooring equipment, rather than intentional sabotage.
The accused claimed the anchor was lost due to technical failure of the winch, which was supposed to hold it in place.
They also rejected claims for damages filed by the cable owner, which amounted to tens of millions of euros.
Prosecutors demanded a minimum of two and a half years’ imprisonment for each defendant.
The court lifted the travel ban on the accused at the end of the September trial, after which they left Finland.
No charges were filed against the ship owner, and the vessel was released from detention in March.
Finland alleges that Eagle S is part of a covert fleet used by Russia to bypass sanctions on oil exports.
The incident is part of a series of attacks on cables and pipelines in the Baltic Sea since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, prompting NATO to strengthen regional security measures.
Russia denies involvement in damaging underwater infrastructure.