Chinese Ship Suspected of Damaging Baltic Sea Gas Pipeline, Finland Demands Investigation

Finnish police have identified the Hong Kong-flagged cargo vessel NewNew Polar Bear as the likely culprit in damaging the BalticConnector gas pipeline running under the Baltic Sea between Finland and Estonia. Investigators believe that an anchor from the Chinese container ship was dislodged, causing the damage. The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation has evidence and data pointing to the vessel, including a dragging trail on the seabed leading to the point of damage. The investigation will determine whether the damage was intentional, unintentional, or caused by "bad seafaring." Finnish authorities also suspect the same vessel of damaging a Finland-Estonia data cable.