European investigators believe that a Chinese-owned merchant ship deliberately pulled anchor for provocation under two seas. Telecommunication cables were cut in the Baltic Sea earlier this month. However, Western law enforcement and intelligence officials said The Wall Street Journal They do not believe that the Chinese government is involved. Instead, the investigation is focused on whether Russian intelligence convinced the ship’s captain to carry out the operation.
Last week, NATO warships from Denmark, Germany and Sweden surrounded the 225-meter-long Yi Peng 3. The ship’s Chinese owner, Ningbo Yipeng Shipping, is said to be cooperating with investigators. The shipper has allowed the merchant ship to be stopped in international waters.
The WSJ Swedish and German authorities are negotiating with the owner to gain access to the ship and its crew. International maritime law prevents NATO from forcing a ship to sail to one of its ports.
European investigators believe the Yi Peng 3 dragged its anchor along the bottom of the Baltic Sea more than 100 miles between November 17 and 18. They looked at satellite and other data to show that the ship was moving much slower than usual under the weight of the anchor.
He cut two data cables: one connecting Lithuania and Sweden, and the other connecting Finland and Germany. According to reports, after cutting the second cable, the ship zig-zagged, raised the anchor and continued.
Officials said that the ship’s transponder was turned off during the incident. The investigators informed about thisWSJ their inspection of the anchor and hull showed damage consistent with cable dragging and shearing.
“It is unlikely that the captain did not see his ship go down and drag anchor, lose speed for hours and cut cables en route,” he said. WSJ. An analyst firm specializing in international shipping told the newspaper that the possibility of the anchor being accidentally dragged “seems to be minimal.”
Yi Peng 3 sailed exclusively in Chinese waters from December 2019 to early March 2024. At that time, she suddenly began to carry Russian coal and other goods and stopped at Russian ports. She was carrying Russian fertilizer when the Danish Navy intercepted her.
USA in September released Warning of increased risk of interception of Russian undersea data cables.
