European investigators believe a Chinese-owned commercial ship deliberately dragged its anchor to sabotage the two undersea telecommunications cables cut in the Baltic Sea earlier this month. Western law enforcement suspects Russian intelligence was behind the operation.

Summary

European investigators allege that the Chinese-owned ship Yi Peng 3 deliberately dragged its anchor to sever two Baltic Sea undersea data cables connecting Lithuania-Sweden and Finland-Germany.

While the Chinese government is not suspected, officials are probing possible Russian intelligence involvement.

The ship’s suspicious movements, including transponder shutdowns and zig-zagging, suggest deliberate action.

The vessel, linked to Russian trade since March 2024, was carrying Russian fertilizer when stopped.

NATO warships surround the ship, but international maritime laws limit investigators’ access.

  • Lord Wiggle@lemmy.world
    1116·
    28 days ago

    Situation: Someone painted the wall blue. Investigstors: “We came to the conclusion the wall is blue.”

    Thank you captain obvious.

    If it looks like a bear, acts like a bear and shits in the woods, guess what animal it is.

    Edit: I don’t know if you guys are familiar with anchor operations. I am, as I have served 15 years in the navy. There is no way you drop an anchor by accident, with the correct anchor chain length compared to the depth of the sea, then to accidentally have the anchor chain break operated correctly (this isn’t as easy as pushing a button) and have the anchorchain stop accidentally placed (manual labor) so the chain isn’t ripped out of the ship while dragging it over the sea floor. Sailing with the chain out is also difficult; going too fast or making too tight turns drags the chain over the hull and the bulb, creating a nice Titanic effect. Dropping an anchor makes so much noice, the entire ship will hear it like there’s someone using pots and pans while drumming in the hallway. Even when a ship is 300+ meters long. So everyone on board knew about dropping the anchor. “Well maybe they were asleep” nope, this wakes everyone up.

    Doing all of this requires manpower of several crew members as well as calculations for chain length and navigation. So the captain and officers were involved, as well as deckhands for operating the anchor winch and stop.

    So to me this is a no-brainer that this was done deliberately, no doubt about it.