Investigation Launched into China Ship's Role in Pipeline Damage, Confirms Finland

Finland's National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is focusing its investigation into the damage of the Balticonnector gas pipeline on the Chinese NewNew Polar Bear container vessel. The investigation is looking into whether the damage was accidental or deliberate sabotage. The Estonian Navy is also investigating the incidents involving a telecoms cable and is considering the involvement of two ships, the NewNew Polar Bear and Russia's Sevmorput. Vessel tracking data shows that only these two ships were present at all three incident sites. Finland has contacted China and Russia for assistance in the investigation, while concerns about energy supply security in the Nordic region have prompted increased patrols by NATO in the Baltic Sea.