China has admitted that a Hong Kong-flagged container ship, the Newnew Polar Bear, was responsible for damage to the Balticconnector underwater gas pipeline connecting Estonia and Finland. Although it was an accident, the Chinese authorities have acknowledged that the incident occurred during a heavy storm in the Baltic Sea last year.
Investigation and official statements
The internal Chinese investigation, the results of which have been forwarded to the governments of Finland and Estonia, concluded that the accident was caused by adverse weather conditions that shifted an anchor from the vessel into the pipeline. This finding has been shared with European authorities, although Beijing has remained tight-lipped about releasing additional details beyond what has been reported.
For their part, Finland and Estonia are continuing their joint criminal investigation into the incident. Finnish authorities identified an anchor near the site of the damage that matched the paint on the pipeline, which quickly pointed to the Newnew Polar Bear as the culprit. This vessel, registered in Hong Kong, has come under scrutiny as both countries seek to fully understand the circumstances that led to the pipeline damage.
Repercussions of Balticconnector pipeline damage
The damage to the Balticconnectorwhich occurred in Finland’s Exclusive Economic Zone, has raised concerns about the safety of critical infrastructure in the region. Although China has cooperated by providing the report of its internal investigation, the international community is watching closely to see how the next steps in the investigation will unfold, especially in terms of liability and compensation.
This event underscores the complexity of maritime international maritime operations and the and the importance of maintaining safety standards to avoid such incidents. Diplomatic tensions between China and the European countries involved could escalate depending on the outcome of the ongoing investigations.
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Source and photo: splash247
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