The Swedish Accident Investigation Authority (SHK) released a report last week stating that it cannot definitively determine whether the subsea cable break in the Baltic Sea caused by the Chinese bulk carrier, Yi Peng 3, last November was accidental or resulted from sabotage.
The incident occurred on November 18, 2024, when Yi Peng 3 damaged the C-Lion 1 subsea cable.
Although Swedish investigators were allowed to board the vessel, they faced significant obstacles from Chinese authorities, who imposed time constraints and restricted access to crucial evidence, such as surveillance footage and the ship’s voyage data recorder (VDR), often referred to as the ship’s “black box.” Additionally, interviews with the crew were conducted in the presence of Chinese officials, further complicating the investigation.
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The SHK’s report outlined two possible scenarios, but due to the limitations of the investigation, it could not conclusively rule out either one. The first scenario suggests the ship may have deliberately released its anchor, causing damage to the seabed infrastructure. However, this action would have posed significant risks to the vessel and crew, particularly those operating the anchor windlass.
The second scenario proposes that the anchor may have come loose due to poor securing or equipment failure. However, the absence of damage to the chain box and anchor windlass undermines this possibility. Additionally, the ship allegedly dragged its anchor along the seafloor for 1.5 days without detection.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Yi Peng 3 continued its voyage in December 2024. International maritime law generally assigns the responsibility for investigating such incidents to the vessel’s flag state. However, when criminal activity is suspected, other nations can conduct investigations.
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Other vessels were also linked to cable breaks in the incident’s aftermath. On Christmas Day, Eagle S was seized by Finnish authorities after dragging its anchor for nearly 62 miles, damaging multiple subsea cables. While the crew was released last month, three members remain under investigation in Finland.
In January, Swedish authorities detained Vezhen, a cargo ship suspected of damaging a communications link between Latvia and Sweden. Prosecutors later cleared the ship of sabotage, citing weather conditions and equipment failures as contributing factors.
These incidents have raised concerns about possible sabotage in the Baltic Sea, with speculation pointing to potential Russian involvement. Despite these fears, European governments are increasingly confident that the cable breaks were accidental and not part of a coordinated campaign.
