Finland appeals court revives case against Eagle S Officers over cable breaks
Finnish appeals court ruled Finland can prosecute Eagle S officers for 2024 Baltic Sea cable breaks, reviving the case and EUR 105M damages claims.
The Helsinki Court of Appeal ruled Finland has jurisdiction to prosecute three senior officers of the Eagle S, the Russia-linked tanker that severed multiple subsea cables on December 25, 2024, overturning a district court dismissal. The court found the crew's conduct after Finnish authorities made contact was not a 'maritime accident' under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, noting the ship dragged its anchor roughly 90 kilometers and cut four more cables. Owners of the Estlink 2 power cable, Fingrid and Elering, are seeking about EUR 105 million ($122 million), and the ruling will guide the related Fitburg anchor-dragging case. The decision can be appealed to Finland's Supreme Court until October 26, 2026.
- Appeal court held the damage occurred in Finland, establishing jurisdiction over the officers
- Post-contact conduct, including 90 km of anchor dragging, excluded from UNCLOS accident protection
- Estlink 2 owners Fingrid and Elering seek about EUR 105 million in damages
- Ruling sets precedent for the separate Fitburg New Year's Eve cable damage trial
- Case can still be appealed to Finland's Supreme Court until October 26, 2026
- Products
- Estlink 2
From the original article
4 min read at therecord.media
A Finnish appeals court on Thursday revived the collapsed prosecution of three senior officers of the Eagle S, the Russia-linked oil tanker that severed multiple subsea cables in the Baltic Sea on Christmas Day 2024. The Helsinki Court of Appeal ruled that Finland has jurisdiction to try the men, overturning a district court judgment that had thrown out the case last October.
therecord.media
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