Officials in Finland inspected a suspicious tanker in the Baltic Sea on December ٣١, ٢٠٢٥, to strengthen security measures against underwater threats. This operation was conducted with the presence of border guard helicopters and the Turva coastal guard ship, reflecting growing concerns about the security of critical infrastructure in the region.
Background of Underwater Threats
Finland and the Baltic region have faced several incidents of damage to power cables, telephone lines, and gas pipelines since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in ٢٠٢٢. These incidents have raised concerns about vulnerabilities in the protection of critical infrastructure. In this context, Finnish authorities have turned to exercises to prepare for such threats.
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Details of the Inspection Drill
In this drill, armed officers from the coastal guard, police, and armed forces were transferred from a helicopter to the tanker’s deck to begin the inspection operation. Captain Ilja Ilyin, who led the exercise, stated that this action represents a "new normal" in the eyes of the Helsinki government. He added: "In the past two or three years, several incidents in the Baltic have involved damage to critical underwater infrastructure. Therefore, we must be prepared for when the next incident occurs."
Indicators that a vessel may be involved in cable damage include sudden changes in its speed or course when passing over an underwater line. Finland's response to any incident has been increasingly robust. The first suspected vessel managed to escape before authorities could act, while the last vessel was brought under control within hours.
Preparedness for Future Threats
In the event of a real incident, police officers on standby can reach their base within an hour and then proceed to the incident site by helicopter or boat. While most incidents have occurred due to vessels and their anchors getting stuck, authorities are also preparing to counter sabotage that may be carried out by divers, small submarines, or unmanned underwater vehicles carrying explosives.
The Finnish government is seeking new powers to allow the border guard, including the coastal guard, to stop and inspect vessels suspected of flying flags without proper registration or fake flags, as well as to intervene against unmanned underwater vehicles.
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