Submarine Cable Group Investigating Cause of Baltic Cuts
The U.K.-based International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) said last week it continues to investigate cuts to two submarine cables in the Baltic Sea and urged against media speculation about the causes. The BCS East-West cable experienced a fault Nov. 17,…
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while the C-Lion cable reported a fault a day later. “These incidents have sparked significant speculation in news and social media, in many cases with conclusory statements about deliberate damage,” the group said in a statement: “At this stage in the investigations, however, no conclusive evidence has been disclosed to support such claims. The ICPC emphasizes that it's vital for the repair to proceed in a timely fashion and for investigations regarding the cause of damage be completed in a timely and objective manner so that governments and industry might learn from the incident and enhance cable protection going forward.” Chinese ship Yi Peng 3 sailed over the cables at about the time they were severed and is suspected of being responsible, according to various media reports. At the time of the reports, the ship was anchored in the Kattegat strait between Sweden and Denmark. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Thursday he formally asked Chinese authorities about the two cables, which run between Finland and Germany and Sweden and Lithuania, The Guardian reported. The ICPC didn't comment Friday.