Norway Frees Russian-Crewed Vessel After Baltic Sea Cable Damage Allegations

"Norway Releases Russian Ship Amid Cable Damage Claims"

Norwegian authorities released the Silver Dania ship, initially suspected of damaging an underwater cable, after finding no evidence linking it to the incident.

Alex Chen1 February 2025Last Update : 1 month ago

Norway releases a Russian-crewed ship initially suspected of damaging a Baltic Sea cable

www.cnn.com

A Norwegian-owned ship, the Silver Dania, which was initially suspected of damaging an underwater fiber optic cable connecting Latvia and Gotland, has been released by authorities. The decision was announced on February 1, 2025, following an investigation by Norwegian police that found no evidence linking the ship to the incident.

6 Key Takeaways

Norwegian ship released after investigation
No evidence linking Silver Dania to damage
Investigation will continue despite ship's release
Cable damage detected between Latvia and Gotland
Vezhen ship also suspected in cable damage
Owner denies sabotage involvement by crew

Fast Answer: The Silver Dania, a Norwegian-owned, Russian-crewed ship, was released after Norwegian police found no evidence connecting it to the damage of a fiber optic cable between Latvia and Gotland. The ship was detained for inspection at Tromsø following a request from Latvian authorities. The investigation will continue, but the ship’s owner maintains that it had no involvement in the incident.

The Silver Dania was detained on January 31, 2025, while traveling between St. Petersburg and Murmansk. Authorities had raised suspicions after damage to the cable was detected in the Baltic Sea. The ship was brought to Tromsø for inspection following a request from Latvian authorities and a ruling from a Norwegian court. Police conducted interviews and searched the vessel but found no link to the cable damage.

Norwegian police attorney Ronny Jørgensen stated that the investigation will continue, but there is no reason for the ship to remain in Tromsø. The CEO of SilverSea, Tormod Fossmark, emphasized that the ship did not cause any damage and is cooperating with authorities. He noted that the ship’s tracking data shows no irregularities during its journey.

Damage to the fiber optic cable, which runs from Ventspils, Latvia, to Gotland, was discovered on January 28, 2025. Following this, Swedish prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation into suspected sabotage and detained another vessel, the Malta-flagged Vezhen. The owner of the Vezhen suggested that the cable break could have been accidental, dismissing any claims of sabotage.

In summary, the Silver Dania has been cleared of any wrongdoing related to the cable damage incident, although investigations will continue. The incident raises concerns about maritime safety and the protection of critical infrastructure in the Baltic region.

Notice: Canadian readers should be aware of the increasing scrutiny on maritime activities in international waters, especially concerning critical infrastructure like undersea cables, which are vital for global communications.