China Shock: Confirmation of Gas Pipeline Destruction in the Baltic

Mystery of the Balticconnector Pipeline Unraveled

The mystery surrounding the Balticconnector pipeline, destroyed in the Baltic Sea in October 2023, has finally been resolved.
This incident also involved the destruction of two undersea cables that provided Estonia, Finland, and Sweden with gas and internet connectivity.
After 11 months of speculation and investigation, Chinese authorities have admitted that the damage was caused by the Chinese freighter, Newnew Polar Bear.

Almost immediately following the incident, suspicions arose regarding the Chinese vessel.
Investigators analyzed the area and found that during the crucial hours of the accident, only two ships were present: a Russian icebreaker and the Newnew Polar Bear.
Their presence in proximity led to the belief that one of these vessels was responsible for the pipeline and cable destruction.

Details of the Incident

After the incident, both vessels quickly left the area.
The icebreaker headed back to Russia, while the Hong Kong-flagged freighter set course for China, where it remains docked in Tianjin, not far from Beijing.

On the following Monday, nearly 11 months after the incident, Chinese authorities acknowledged their role.
They reported that during a strong storm, the crew erroneously dropped anchor, inadvertently contacting the gas pipeline and cables beneath the sea.

European Frustration

The internal investigation conducted by China corroborated these findings, which Finnish authorities had hinted at shortly after the event, discovering anchor traces at the scene as well as a drag mark on the sea floor.

This lack of transparency has frustrated Europe, particularly the involved nations.
The Estonian government stated that “China’s declaration cannot serve as evidence in a legal process,” raising concerns over potential impunity.

Several months prior, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia had requested legal assistance to investigate the Newnew Polar Bear but had received no response.
With China now admitting to the incident, attention turns to whether the government will accept accountability and if any repercussions will follow for the vessel’s management, the Chinese NewNew Shipping Line.

Ongoing Investigations

As investigations continue, according to Zareff from the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, definitive conclusions on the damage’s causes will only emerge after all necessary inquiries are complete, a process that may take some time.

Last October, the damage was significant.
At first, there were fears of sabotage, but investigations indicated the broken pipeline resulted from mechanical impact rather than an explosion.
The pipeline was swiftly shut down to minimize gas loss, and Finland’s supply, secured through a LNG terminal, remained unaffected.

The Balticconnector, constructed in 2018 to transport natural gas from Finland to Estonia and beyond to continental Europe, began operations in 2020.
Its strategic importance surged following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and subsequent sanctions against Russia.

For more information on related projects, check the article on the new gas pipeline in Italy.