Underwater Cable Damage by Chinese Ship ‘Extremely Unlikely’ to be Coincidence
A Chinese commercial vessel suspected of deliberately cutting undersea data cables in the Baltic Sea remains surrounded by Danish, German and Swedish warships, as European investigators probe possible Russian intelligence involvement in what they view as a sabotage operation.
The Yi Peng 3, which departed the Russian port of Ust-Luga on November 15 loaded with fertilizer, is believed to have severed two critical cables by dragging its anchor for 111 miles through Swedish waters on November 17-18, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.
The incident, damaging connections between Sweden-Lithuania and Germany-Finland, has prompted Swedish authorities to open a sabotage investigation.
“It’s extremely unlikely that the captain would not have noticed that his ship dropped and dragged its anchor, losing speed for hours and cutting cables on the way,” a senior European investigator said. Investigators later found damage to the vessel’s anchor and hull consistent with cable severing.
The 225-meter bulk carrier’s movements raised multiple red flags. Its transponder shut down during what maritime officials call a “dark incident,” and the ship made unusual zigzag maneuvers after the second cable cut. Analysis by shipping data firm Kpler noted that accidental anchor dragging was unlikely given mild weather conditions.
The vessel’s Chinese owner, Ningbo Yipeng Shipping, is cooperating with authorities but declined to comment. The crew, including a Chinese captain and a Russian sailor, has not been questioned.
The Kremlin called the accusations “absurd and unsubstantiated,” while China’s Foreign Ministry expressed support for maintaining international submarine cable security “in accordance with international law.”
The case echoes an October 2022 incident where another Chinese-registered vessel, Newnew Polar Bear, cut a gas pipeline and telecommunication cable between Finland and Estonia.
The Yi Peng 3’s operational pattern changed significantly this year. After operating exclusively in Chinese waters from December 2019 through early March 2024, the vessel began carrying Russian cargo and making calls at Russian ports.
The Sweden-Lithuania cable was repaired on November 28, according to its operator Arelion.
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