Registered with the Cook Islands, the 751-foot-long Eagle S is believed to be part of the Russian “shadow” or “dark” fleet that President Vladimir Putin allegedly operates to avoid sanctions.
Following the Estlink2 rupture, NATO has increased patrols in the Gulf of Finland, an area where Russian naval and commercial shipping largely operate.
According to Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, the anchor traces stretch more than 60 miles on the sea bed.
The vessel now has a missing anchor and has been detained by Finnish law enforcement who bordered the vessel from a helicopter at the port of Kilpilahti.
“The trail ends where the ship has raised the anchor chain, and from there to the east [the trail] stretches for several dozen, if not almost a hundred kilometers,” said Sami Paila, the NBI chief.
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While the exact location of where the anchor was dropped remains unclear, investigation is underway into the search for the anchor on the seabed.
Officials are questioning the crew onboard which comprises citizens of India and Georgia.
The Eagle S departed from Ust-Luga in Russia for Egypt but significantly slowed down while passing over the Estlink 2 cable on Christmas Day, Marine Traffic service said.
Following this event, the cable stopped working.
This ship has previously dropped “Sensors-type devices” in the English Channel during transit, said British-owned shipping industry publication Lloyd’s List who revealed the information about the ship having spy gear onboard.
“We assume at this stage that the vessel in question is a member of the shadow fleet,” said Sami Rakshit, the head of Finland’s customs agency.