Riga, Jun. 20, (dpa/GNA) – The Estlink 2 subsea power cable connecting Estonia and Finland, which was damaged late last year, is once again fully operational and connected to the electricity market, authorities said on Friday.

Estonian network operator Elering said repair work, carried out with the help of a specialized vessel, proceeded smoothly and was completed ahead of schedule.

The damaged section of the 170-kilometre cable was removed and replaced with a 1-kilometre segment, a statement said.

Estlink 2 was knocked offline on December 25 by a ship’s anchor, with damage subsequently discovered on several other nearby communication cables.

Authorities in Finland seized the tanker Eagle S, which had been in the area at the time of the suspicious incidents.

The ship sails under the flag of the Cook Islands and, according to the European Union, belongs to Russia’s shadow fleet. The term refers to tankers and other cargo ships that Russia uses to evade sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine.

Investigators suspect that the crew of the Eagle S intentionally caused damage by dragging the anchor along the seabed.

The tanker was released from Finnish custody in early March and allowed to leave the country’s territorial waters. But three crew members, including the captain, have not been allowed to leave the country.

Finnish prosecutors are still reviewing the evidence to decide whether to file formal charges, including sabotage and gross disruption of telecommunications services.

GNA

PDC